Ngarrindjeri language facts for kids

Ngarrindjeri is an important language spoken by the Ngarrindjeri people and their relatives in southern South Australia. You might also see it spelled as Narrinyeri or Ngarinyeri. This language has several different forms, called dialects. A study in 2002 found five main dialects: Warki, Tanganekald, Ramindjeri, Portaulun, and Yaraldi.

Understanding Ngarrindjeri Language

Ngarrindjeri belongs to a large group of languages called Pama–Nyungan. These languages are found across much of Australia. While the 2002 study identified five dialects, some experts, like Bowern (2011), consider Yaraldi, Ngarrindjeri, and Ramindjeri to be separate languages. Sadly, the Tanganekald dialect, also known as Thangal, is no longer spoken today.

Bringing the Language Back

Ngarrindjeri has a special place in history. In 1864, parts of the Bible were translated into Ngarrindjeri. This was the very first time any part of the Bible was translated into an Aboriginal language. Here's an example from the 1864 translation of Genesis 2:8: "Jehovah winmin gardenowe Edenald, kile yuppun ityan korn gardenungai." This means: "Jehovah God planted a garden in Eden, toward the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed."

The last person who spoke Ngarrindjeri fluently passed away in the 1960s. However, people have been working hard to bring the language back to life in the 21st century.

Efforts to Revive Ngarrindjeri

• A Ngarrindjeri dictionary was first released in 2009. This book helps people learn and understand the language.
• The work of early Lutheran missionaries, Christian Teichelmann and Clamor Schürmann, was very important. They recorded a lot of the language when the British first settled in South Australia. Their records are now helping to revive both Ngarrindjeri and the Kaurna language.
• In the 2016 Australian census, 312 people were recorded as speaking Ngarrindjeri. This shows that the language is being used again.
• A second edition of the dictionary came out in 2019. It added 500 new words, bringing the total to 4,200 words!
• Ngarrindjeri elder Phyllis Williams has worked for many years with linguist Mary-Anne Gale. They teach the language to adults and create learning materials.
• In 2020, a third, even bigger dictionary was published by AIATSIS. It includes hundreds of new words, even for things that didn't exist in the 1800s, like "solar panel".
• In 2021, the first students graduated from a special course at Tauondi Aboriginal College in Port Adelaide. This course teaches people how to teach Aboriginal languages. These graduates can now share their skills with their communities.
• The musical group Deadly Nannas (Nragi Muthar) sing songs in both Ngarrindjeri and English. They use their music to help teach the language in schools and other places.

Names for the Language

The name Ngarrindjeri has a special sound. Some experts believe the original pronunciation had two different 'r' sounds. However, in the revived Ngarrindjeri language today, both 'r' sounds are pronounced differently from English.

Other names that have been used for this language or its dialects include Jarildekald, Jaralde, Yarilde, Yarrildie, Jaraldi, Lakalinyeri, Warawalde, Yalawarre, and Yarildewallin.

In the past, the Ngarrindjeri people used the term Kukabrak to describe themselves. This word helped them show they were different from their neighbors who spoke other languages and had different customs. However, the name Narrinyeri (another way to spell Ngarrindjeri) has been used for a long time in books and by Aboriginal people today who know they come from the original people of this area.

Ngarrindjeri Sign Language

The Yaralde people, who spoke a dialect of Ngarrindjeri, also had their own sign language. This was the southernmost Aboriginal sign language ever recorded in Australia.

Some Ngarrindjeri Words

Here are a few words from the Ngarrindjeri language:

• kondoli – 'whale'
• korni/korne – 'man'
• kringkari, gringari – 'white man'
• muldarpi/mularpi – 'travelling spirit of sorcerers and strangers'
• yanun – 'speak, talk'

Sadly, some animals have become extinct since Europeans arrived in Australia. Here are Ngarrindjeri words for some of them:

• maikari – Eastern hare-wallaby
• rtulatji – Toolache wallaby
• wi:kwai – Pig-footed bandicoot

See also

In Spanish: Idioma ngarinyeri para niños