Nyawaygi language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nyawaygi |
|
|---|---|
| Native to | Australia |
| Region | Queensland |
| Ethnicity | Nyawaygi |
| Extinct | 2009, with the death of Willie Seaton |
| Language family | |
| AIATSIS | Y129 |
The Nyawaygi language was an Aboriginal language from Australia. It was spoken by the Nyawaygi people in North Queensland, on the east coast of Australia. Sadly, this language is now extinct, which means no one speaks it anymore. The last known speaker, Willie Seaton, passed away in 2009.
The area where Nyawaygi was spoken includes parts of the Hinchinbrook Regional Council, Halifax Bay, and Rollingstone.
What Made Nyawaygi Special?
The Nyawaygi language had some unique features. It had only 12 consonants, which is a very small number compared to other Australian languages. It also had 7 different ways to change verbs (called conjugations). This included 3 "open" ways and 4 "closed" ways. Some of its word parts were very short, with only one syllable. This was a special feature that many nearby languages had lost over time.
Learning Nyawaygi Words
Even though the language is extinct, we still know some words from Nyawaygi. These words were written down by Nyawaygi authors. Here are a few examples:
- Alu: head
- Angal: boomerang
- Balgan: stone
- Buramu: butterfly
- Gabagan: aunt
- Touca tula: good day
- Wadi: laugh
- Yunggul: one
