Thaayorre facts for kids
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 350 (2006) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Australia | |
| Languages | |
| Kuuk Thaayorre, English | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Yir-Yoront, Yirrk-Thangalkl, Koko Bera, Uw Olkola, Uw Oykangand |
The Thaayorre people, also known as the Kuuk Thaayore, are an Aboriginal group from Australia. They live in the southwestern part of the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland. Many Thaayorre people live in a place called Pormpuraaw, which started as the Edward River Mission.
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The Thaayorre Language
The Kuuk Thaayorre language is part of the Paman language family. About 300 people speak Kuuk Thaayorre as their native language. Many of these speakers also know other languages. These include Yir-Yiront, Kugu Nganhcara, Pakanha, Uw Olkola, and Wik Mungkan.
Kuuk Thaayorre is special among Australian Aboriginal languages. It has many words that are only one syllable long. It also has five different vowel sounds, which is a lot for these languages.
Thaayorre Country
The traditional lands of the Thaayorre people cover about 1,200 square miles (3,100 square kilometers). This area stretches from the mouth of the Coleman River north to the Edward River. Their neighbors to the south were the Yir-Yiront people. To their north lived the Kugu Nganhcara people.
Time and Direction
The Thaayorre language has a very interesting way of talking about time. In many cultures, people think of time moving from left to right or front to back. But for the Thaayorre, time is linked to the main compass directions: east, west, north, and south.
This means that how they describe time moving depends on which way they are facing. For example, if someone is looking south, time might be described as flowing from left to right. If they are looking north, it would flow from right to left. If they face east, time moves towards them. If they face west, time moves away from them. This unique system is built into their language.
Thaayorre History
The Thaayorre people were drawn from their traditional lands to the Edward River Mission. This mission was on their territory. They were interested in new items like tobacco, sugar, and especially steel axes. They believed these items came from the "ghost-clan," which was their way of saying they came from white people.
Today, the Thaayorre people divide their time. They live in Pormpuraaw and also in outstations in their homeland. Living in outstations allows them to keep more of their traditional way of life.
Other Names for Thaayorre
- Taiol
- Tayore
- Koko-Taiyor
- Da:jor
- Koko-Daiyuri
- Kokkotaijari
- Kokotaiyari
- Koko-yak
- Gugujak
- Daiyuri
