Yankunytjatjara dialect facts for kids

Yankunytjatjara (also called Yankuntatjara, Jangkundjara, or Kulpantja) is an Aboriginal language spoken in Australia. It is part of the Western Desert Language group, which belongs to the larger Pama–Nyungan family. Many languages in the Western Desert group are very similar, meaning people who speak one can often understand others.

Yankunytjatjara is spoken in the northwest part of South Australia. You can hear it in communities like Mimili, Indulkana, and Fregon. It is also spoken around Oodnadatta and Coober Pedy, though Coober Pedy is not on the traditional lands of the Yankunytjatjara people.

What is Yankunytjatjara?

Yankunytjatjara is one of many different ways of speaking the Western Desert language. It is very much like Pitjantjatjara, which is a more widely known language.

In places like Coober Pedy, where many people speak both Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara, young speakers often use words from English. They also borrow words from Pitjantjatjara. This happens because Pitjantjatjara has spread into areas where Yankunytjatjara is traditionally spoken.

The way Yankunytjatjara is spoken can change a bit from one area to another. For example, the northern version of Yankunytjatjara shares some features with Southern Luritja.

Sounds of Yankunytjatjara

Like all languages, Yankunytjatjara has its own set of sounds, including vowels and consonants.

Vowel Sounds

Yankunytjatjara has three main vowel sounds:

• i (like the i in sit or see)
• u (like the u in put or flute)
• a (like the a in father)

These vowel sounds can be short or long. For example, ii would be a longer i sound.

Consonant Sounds

The language has many consonant sounds. Some are similar to English, like p, k, m, and n. Others are different and might take practice to pronounce. These include sounds made with the tongue in different parts of the mouth, like tj (similar to ch in church) or ny (like ny in canyon).

How the Name Yankunytjatjara Came About

The name Yankunytjatjara comes from a special word in the language. This word is the verb for 'come' or 'go'.

• In Yankunytjatjara, the word for 'come/go' is yankunyta (or yananyi in the present tense).
• In the similar Pitjantjatjara language, the word for 'come/go' is pitjantja (or pitjanyi in the present tense).

The ending -tjara means 'having' or 'with'. So, Yankunytjatjara means 'having the word yankunytja'. This helps tell it apart from Pitjantjatjara, which has pitjantja.

Sometimes, different groups of speakers are named after other words they use. For example, some northern Yankunytjatjara speakers use the word maṯu for 'true'. They might be called Maṯutjara. Southern Yankunytjatjara speakers use mula for 'true', so they might be called Mulatjara.

Also, Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara speakers both use nyangatja for 'this' or 'this one'. Because of this, they are sometimes grouped together as Nyangatjatjara. This helps to show how languages are connected through the words they share.

Saying the Name

When people speak quickly, the name Yankunytjatjara is usually pronounced as yankunytjara. One of the -tja- sounds is often skipped. But if someone speaks slowly and carefully, all the sounds will be pronounced.

Is Yankunytjatjara in Danger?

Experts have studied the Yankunytjatjara language to see how many people speak it and if it is still strong.

• In 1996, a study suggested that Yankunytjatjara was in danger.
• A more detailed survey in 2005 said that Yankunytjatjara was 'definitely endangered'. This means fewer people are speaking it, especially younger generations.

Another study used a scoring system to check the language's health. It showed that Yankunytjatjara scored quite low, suggesting it is at risk. However, the study also noted that Western Desert people own some media like radio stations, which can help keep the language alive.

Overall, most experts and Yankunytjatjara elders agree that the language is showing signs of being endangered. This means efforts are needed to help keep it strong for future generations.

See also

In Spanish: Yankunytjatjara para niños