Uradhi language facts for kids

Uradhi is an Indigenous Australian language. It was once spoken on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. Sadly, it seems this language is no longer spoken by anyone.

The Injinoo people, also known as the Urradhi people, were the ones who spoke this language. The name "Urradhi" comes from two words: urra, meaning "this," and dhi, meaning "having."

Urradhi was part of a larger group of languages called Paman languages. These languages are all quite similar. The Urradhi language itself had different ways of speaking, called dialects. The main Urradhi dialect was spoken in the southwest. Another dialect, Wudhadhi, was spoken in the southeast. Its name also means "this," but uses wudha instead of urra.

Other closely related dialects included Angkamuthi, Atampaya, Utudhanamu, Yantaykenu, Yadhaykenu, and Yaraytyana. Even though they were very similar, this group of dialects didn't have one common name. However, "Urradhi" is often used to describe the whole group. We don't know exactly when the Urradhi language stopped being spoken.

The Urradhi dialects were also closely connected to the Gudang language. This language was spoken at the very tip of Cape York.

Where the Language Was Spoken

The Urradhi language was traditionally spoken in a specific area. This area was north of Mapoon and Duyfken Point. It also stretched east from the coast, north of Port Musgrave. This included the mouth of the Ducie River and parts of the Dulhunty and Skardon rivers.

Later, after British settlers arrived, many Indigenous people had to move from their traditional lands. The language was then also spoken in the Northern Peninsula Area Region. This included communities like New Mapoon, Injinoo, and Cowal Creek.

See also

In Spanish: Idioma uradhi para niños