Paredarerme language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paredarerme |
|
|---|---|
| Oyster Bay | |
| Region | central and central-eastern Tasmania |
| Ethnicity | Oyster Bay and Big River tribes of Tasmanians |
| Extinct | 19th century |
| Language family |
Eastern Tasmanian
|
| Dialects |
Big River dialect †
Bass Strait pidgin? (may have been related to the lingua fanca) †
|
| AIATSIS | T2 Oyster Bay, T8 |
Paredarerme or Oyster Bay Tasmanian was an Aboriginal language spoken in Tasmania. It was used by the Oyster Bay tribe along the central eastern coast. The Big River tribe, who lived more inland, also spoke a dialect of Paredarerme. This language is now extinct, meaning no one speaks it as their first language anymore.
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What is Paredarerme?
Paredarerme is one of the many languages once spoken by the Aboriginal people of Tasmania. It is sometimes called Oyster Bay Tasmanian because of where it was spoken. Experts like Claire Bowern have worked to reconstruct what this language might have been like.
Where was Paredarerme Spoken?
The Paredarerme language was spoken in two main areas of Tasmania. The Oyster Bay tribe used it along the central eastern coast. This area is known for its beautiful bays and coastline. Further inland, the Big River tribe also spoke a version of Paredarerme. Their dialect was called Lairmairrener, or "Lemerina".
Dialects of Paredarerme
Even though the Big River dialect was spoken inland, it was quite similar to the language used on the coast. This shows how connected these Aboriginal groups were. Some experts even think that the Little Swanport language might have been a separate language, not just another dialect of Paredarerme.
How Do We Know About Paredarerme?
Since Paredarerme is an extinct language, we can't learn it from speakers today. Instead, we rely on old records and word lists. These lists were put together by people who met the Aboriginal Tasmanians long ago.
Important Word Lists
One important person who collected words was George Augustus Robinson. He created a list of 268 words from the Big River dialect. He also made an Oyster Bay list with 357 words.
Another key collection came from Joseph Milligan. He published a much larger list of 1,040 words in 1857 and 1859. This is the longest word list we have for any Tasmanian language. These lists are like clues that help us understand what Paredarerme sounded like.
Why Are Languages Important?
Every language is special. It carries the history, stories, and knowledge of a group of people. When a language becomes extinct, some of that unique culture can be lost too.
Preserving Language History
Even though Paredarerme is no longer spoken, studying its word lists is very important. It helps us learn about the rich history of the Aboriginal people of Tasmania. It also reminds us to value and protect the languages that are still spoken today around the world.
