Guugu Yalandji language

Guugu Yalandji, also spelt Kuku-Yalanji, is an Australian Aboriginal language of Queensland. It is the traditional language of the Kuku Yalanji people.

Speakers

Despite conflicts between the Kuku Yalanji people and British settlers in Queensland, the Kuku Yalanji language has a healthy number of speakers, and that number is increasing. Though the language is threatened, the language use is vigorous and children are learning it in schools. All generations of speakers have positive language attitudes.

The Kuku Yalanji still practise their traditional religion, and they have rich oral traditions. Many people in the Kuku Yalanji community also use English. Around 100 Kuku Yalanji speakers can both read and write in Kuku Yalanji.

Phonology

Vowels

Kuku-Yalanji uses the typical three-vowel system, /a, u, i/, used in other Aboriginal Australian languages.

Consonants

This table uses the standard orthography used by both linguists and the speech community. Where the orthography differs from the IPA representation, the orthography is in brackets.

Stop sounds can range between voiced and voiceless releases.

Footnotes

References

External links

• Bibliography of Gugu Yalandji people and language resources, at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
• Bibliography of Gugu Djangun people and language resources, at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
• Bibliography of Gugu Gulunggur people and language resources, at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
• Bibliography of Gugu Muluriji people and language resources Archived 12 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine, at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
• Bibliography of Gugu Wakura people and language resources, at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies