Yolŋu languages facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yolŋu Matha
Yuulngu
Ethnicity:	Yolngu
Geographic distribution:	In northeastern Arnhem Land, including Elcho Island, Crocodile Islands, Wessel Islands, English Company’s Islands, Northern Territory, Australia
Linguistic classification:	Pama–Nyungan Yolŋu Matha
Subdivisions:	Signed form: Yolŋu Sign Language —
Yolŋu languages (green) among other Pama–Nyungan (tan)

Yolŋu Matha (pronounced 'yoong-oo maa-taa') means 'Yolŋu tongue'. It is a group of languages spoken by the Yolngu people, who are First Nations people from northeast Arnhem Land in northern Australia. The 'ŋ' in Yolŋu sounds like the 'ng' in the word singing.

Different Yolŋu Matha Languages

Yolŋu Matha is made up of about six main languages. Some of these languages are quite similar, so speakers can understand each other easily. There are also around thirty different clan varieties and about twelve different dialects, each with its own Yolŋu name.

About 4,600 people speak Yolŋu Matha languages. Traditionally, mothers and fathers often spoke different languages. This meant that children usually grew up speaking at least two languages, and sometimes even more! This helped everyone communicate easily across different groups.

Here are some of the main Yolŋu Matha languages and their varieties:

A bilingual sign in both English and Yolŋu Matha warning about crocodiles in Yirrkala, Northern Territory.

Sounds of Yolŋu Matha

The sounds in Yolŋu Matha languages are mostly similar. They have a range of consonant and vowel sounds.

Consonant Sounds

Here are the main consonant sounds found in Yolŋu Matha:

Vowel Sounds

Yolŋu Matha languages generally have three main vowel sounds. Some varieties also have long and short versions of these vowels. Long vowels only appear at the beginning of words.

Yolŋu Matha in Movies and Music

Yolŋu Matha has been featured in popular culture, helping more people learn about these languages.

The movies Ten Canoes (2006) and Charlie's Country (2013) both used Yolŋu Matha dialogue. These films were directed by Rolf de Heer and starred actor David Gulpilil. Ten Canoes was special because it was the first full-length movie filmed entirely in Australian Indigenous languages. Most of its dialogue was in the Ganalbiŋu variety of Yolŋu Matha.

Dr. G. Yunupingu was a famous Australian singer who sang in the Gumatj dialect of Yolŋu Matha. The Aboriginal rock band Yothu Yindi also sang in Yolŋu Matha.

In 2017, Baker Boy released his song "Cloud 9," where he raps in Yolŋu Matha. He is from the community of Milingimbi in North Eastern Arnhem Land. As Young Australian of the Year in 2019 (which was also the International Year of Indigenous Languages), Baker Boy helped bring Yolŋu Matha to a wider audience. His music made people proud of their language.

Learning Resources for Yolŋu Matha

There are several resources available for learning Yolŋu Matha.

Dictionaries have been created by people like Beulah Lowe and David Zorc. In 2015, Charles Darwin University launched a free online dictionary created by John Greatorex.

You can also find grammar books about Yolŋu languages by Jeffrey Heath, Frances Morphy, and Melanie Wilkinson.

Charles Darwin University offers a special course called a graduate certificate in Yolŋu studies. In this course, you can learn about Yolŋu family systems, laws, and the Gupapuyŋu language.

The ABC has an Indigenous News Radio program that broadcasts news in Yolŋu Matha and Warlpiri on weekdays. The Aboriginal Resource and Development Services (ARDS) also broadcasts live radio in northeast Arnhem Land, Darwin, and Palmerston. They also have recordings of past programs online.

Common Yolŋu Matha Words and Phrases

Here are some words and expressions from Yolŋu Matha:

• Gakal – 'skill, talent, ability'
• Bäru – 'crocodile'
• Gapumirr – 'with water' (like a bucket with water), or 'watery'.
• Manymak – 'good, OK'
• Yol or Yo (pronounced 'yo') – 'yes'
• Yo manymak – When used together, this phrase can mean 'good' or 'OK'. It's also used as a friendly greeting. The 'o' in yo is often held longer when used this way.
• Yaka – 'no'
• Yothu – 'child'
• Akka – 'sister'
• Yindi – 'big'
• Yothu Yindi – This phrase describes a special connection between two different things, like a mother-child relationship.

Words from Other Languages

Like other languages in northern Australia, Yolŋu Matha has many words that came from Austronesian languages. This happened because the Yolŋu people had a lot of contact with sailors from the Indonesian archipelago. Experts have found many Yolŋu Matha words that clearly came from Austronesian languages.

Here are some examples of words borrowed from Austronesian languages:

Basic Words in Different Yolŋu Matha Languages

Here is a table showing some basic words in different Yolŋu Matha languages. You can see how the words for the same thing can be different across the various dialects.