Yirandhali language facts for kids

Yirandhali (also called Yirandali, Jirandali, or Pooroga) was an extinct language from Australia. It was spoken by Aboriginal people in the area around Hughenden in Central Queensland. An extinct language means that no one speaks it anymore.

Yirandhali belongs to a large group of Australian languages called Pama–Nyungan. Some experts think it might be part of a smaller group within Pama–Nyungan called Maric. However, there isn't much information or many words recorded from Yirandhali to be sure.

What We Know About Yirandhali

It's hard to find a lot of details about the languages spoken in this part of Queensland. People who lived there long ago said that the town of Hughenden was a place people traveled through. It was not usually a place where they set up long-term camps. This might be because the Flinders River nearby is often dry.

At a place called Porcupine Gorge, there are signs of Aboriginal rock drawings. This area was known as 'the Tattoos' by local people. It would have been a better place to find water, which was very important.

How Yirandhali Words Sounded

One special thing about the Yirandhali language is how its words ended. Every single word in Yirandhali finished with a vowel sound. For example, in many other languages nearby, the word for "breast" was ŋamun. But in Yirandhali, it changed to ŋamuna to end with a vowel.

Why Is Yirandhali Important?

Even though Yirandhali is no longer spoken, it is still an important part of Australia's history. Studying languages like Yirandhali helps us learn about the rich cultures of Aboriginal Australians. It also shows us how different languages are structured.