Nunukul language facts for kids

Nunukul (also called Nununkul, Nunugal, or Munjan) was an Indigenous language once spoken by the Nunukul people in Queensland, Australia. Sadly, it is now an extinct language, meaning there are no longer any people who speak it fluently.

Learning Nunukul Words

Even though Nunukul is no longer spoken every day, we can still learn some of its words! These words help us understand a little bit about the culture and environment of the Nunukul people.

Here are a few words from the Nunukul / Munjan language:

• Gooboora: This word means 'the Silent Pool'. It might have been the name of a quiet waterhole important to the Nunukul people.
• Oodgeroo: This word refers to a 'paperbark tree'. These trees are common in Australia and have bark that peels off in thin layers, like paper.
• Woor: This word means 'devil' or 'evil being'. Many cultures have stories about spirits or beings that are considered good or bad.

Why Languages Become Extinct

It's sad when a language becomes extinct. This often happens when a language is no longer passed down from parents to children. Over time, fewer and fewer people speak it, until eventually, no one does. This can be due to many reasons, like people being forced to speak a different language, or communities changing over time.

When a language disappears, we lose a unique way of understanding the world. Each language has its own special words, stories, and ways of thinking that are connected to the culture of the people who spoke it.

See also

In Spanish: Idioma nunukul para niños