Thura-Yura languages facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yura
Thura-Yura
Geographic distribution:	South Australia
Linguistic classification:	Pama–Nyungan Arandic–Thura-Yura Yura
Subdivisions:	Yura proper Kadli Wirangu
Thura-Yura languages (green) among other Pama–Nyungan (tan). The two groups are Nangga (west) and Yura–Kadli (east)

The Yura or Thura-Yura languages are a group of Australian Aboriginal languages. They are spoken around Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent in South Australia. These languages form a language family within the larger Pama–Nyungan family. This means they are related to each other, like members of a family.

What's in a Name? The Yura Languages

The name Yura comes from a word that means "person" in the northern languages of this group. This word is a softer, or "lenited," form of thura, which is found in other languages in the family. That's why the group is also called Thura-Yura. You might find similar words for "person" in other Aboriginal languages too, even outside this group.

Languages in the Yura Family

Experts have studied the Yura languages to understand how they are related. Here is one way they are grouped, as suggested by researchers Bowern and Koch in 2004:

• Nangga: This group includes the Wirangu and Nauo languages.
• Core Thura-Yura: This is the main part of the family.
  • Yura (northern): This includes Adnyamathanha–Kuyani and Barngarla.
  • Kadli (southern): This includes Narangga and Kaurna.
• Unclassified: Some languages are harder to place exactly, like Nukunu and Ngadjuri.

A person who spoke Nukunu once said they could understand Barngarla and Kuyani. However, they found it harder to understand languages that were further away. The Peramangk language might have been a southern Thura-Yura language, possibly similar to Kaurna.

Understanding Proto-Thura-Yura

A "proto-language" is like an ancient parent language that no longer exists. However, we can guess what it was like by looking at the languages that came from it. For example, Proto-Thura-Yura is the ancient language that the Yura languages all developed from.

Researchers Simpson and Hercus (2004) have tried to figure out some of the words from Proto-Thura-Yura. They use special spellings to show sounds that are not in English.

Spelling conventions

• alveolar tap: r (like the 'tt' in "butter" in American English)
• alveolar trill: rr (like the 'rr' in Spanish "perro")
• retroflex glide: ṟ (a sound made with the tongue curled back)
• retroflex tap: rd (a quick sound made with the tongue curled back)
• indeterminate rhotic: R (a sound that can be like 'r' or 'rr')

See also

In Spanish: Lenguas thura-yura para niños