Wilson River language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wilson River |
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|---|---|
| Palpakunu | |
| Native to | Australia |
| Region | Wilson River (Queensland) |
| Ethnicity | Wongkumara, Ngandangara, Punthamara, Kungadutji, ?Thereila |
| Extinct | probably by 2005aiatsis |
| Language family | |
| Dialects |
Punthamara (Bundhamara)
Ngandangara (Yarumarra, Eromarra)
'Modern' Wangkumara
Wangkumara (Galali)
Gungadidji
?Mambangura/Thereila
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| AIATSIS | L30 Ngandangara, L26, L56 |
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The Wilson River language was an Aboriginal language from Australia. It was also called "Modern" Wankumara. People spoke it along the Wilson River in Queensland. Some groups, like the Wanggumara and Galali, might have moved from the Bulloo River. They may have stopped using their old language when they arrived here.
Who Spoke the Language?
In 1981, only four people still spoke the Wilson River language. These speakers were part of the Wanggumara community. They lived near places like Cooper Creek, the Thomson River, Warry Warry Creek, and the towns of Eromanga and Nuccundra. Sadly, it seems the language was no longer spoken by anyone by the year 2005. This means it is now an extinct language.
Different Ways of Speaking
The Wilson River language had different ways of being spoken, much like how different parts of a country might have different accents or local words. These are called dialects.
Some experts believe that Punthamara was a dialect of Wangkumara. Another dialect, Ngandangara, also seemed very similar. However, there isn't enough information to be completely sure. Karenggapa might have been another dialect or just another name for the language.
In 1967, a researcher named Breen said that the languages spoken by groups along the Wilson River were almost the same. These groups included the Bundhamara, Gungadudji, 'Modern' Wanggumara, and Ngandangura people. For example, Gungadidji was very much like Punthamara and modern Wangkumara. Even though they were so similar, each of these language varieties was given its own special code.
The language of the Thereila people, called Mambangura, might also have been part of this group. The Yandruwandha people had a word, Palpakunu, that covered all these Wilson River dialects.
It's important to know that an older language called "Wonkomarra" from 1886 is different from the modern Wangkumara. It might be a type of Kalali.
Special Features of the Language
The Wangkumara language had some interesting features. It used a special way to connect verbs, which are action words. The version of the language spoken by the Wankamara (Galali) people mostly added endings to words. It was quite simple in how it built words.
The language had different types of words:
- Nouns and pronouns: Words for people, places, things, and words like 'he' or 'she'.
- Verbs: Action words.
- Particles: Small words that help sentences make sense.
- Interjections: Words that show strong feelings, like 'Oh!' or 'Wow!'.
The order of words in a sentence was very flexible, meaning you could arrange them in many ways and still be understood. The language also had three main vowel sounds and 26 consonant sounds.
