Turrbal language

Turrbal is an Aboriginal Australian language of Queensland. It is the language of the Turrbal people, who are the traditional owners and custodians of Brisbane.[2]

Turrbal
Yagara
RegionQueensland
EthnicityTurrbal
ExtinctNo
Dialects
Language codes
ISO 639-3yxg
Glottologyaga1256  Yagara-Jandai
AIATSIS[1]E86 Turubul, E23 Jagara
ELPYagara

The Turrbal Association uses the Turrbal spelling and prefer this over other spellings of Turrbal such as Turubul, Turrubal, Turrabul, Toorbal, and Tarabul.[2]

The four dialects listed in Dixon (2002)[3] are sometimes seen as separate Durubalic languages, especially Jandai and Nunukul; Yagara, Yugarabul, and Turrbul proper are more likely to be considered dialects.[1][4][5]

Influence on other languages

The Australian English word yakka, an informal term referring to any work, especially of strenuous kind, comes from the Yagara word yaga, the verb for 'work'.[6]

The literary journal Meanjin takes its name from meanjin, a Turrbal word meaning 'spike', referring to the spike of land Brisbane was later built on.[7]

Vocabulary

Some words from the Turrbal / Yagara language, as spelt and written by Turrbal / Yagara authors include:[8][9][10][11]

  • Bigi: sun
  • Binung: ear
  • Bugwal: wallaby
  • Buneen: echidna
  • Bangil / bungil: grass
  • Buhn: knee
  • Buyu: shin
  • Deear : teeth
  • Dhagun: land
  • Dhambur : mouth
  • Dharang: leg
  • Dhiggeri: belly / stomach
  • Dinna: foot
  • Dyrrbin: bone
  • Gahm: head
  • Giga: shoulder
  • Gurumba bigi: good day
  • Gujah / guttah: snake
  • Gagarr / guyurr: fish
  • Juhrram: rain
  • Juwahduwan / juwahnduwan / juwanbinl: bird(s)
  • Killen: finger
  • Kundul: canoe
  • Marra: hand
  • Dumbirrbi / marrambi: koala
  • Mil: eye / eyes
  • Guruman / murri: kangaroo
  • Muru: nose
  • Nammul: children
  • Nggurrun: neck
  • Ngumbi: home / camp
  • Tahbil: water (fresh)
  • Towan: fish
  • Tullei: tree
  • Waiyebba: arm
  • Wunya: welcome / greetings
  • Yilam: forehead

References
  1. E86 Turubul at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies  (see the info box for additional links)
  2. "Turrbal Aboriginal Tribe - Traditional Owners of Brisbane". Turrbal. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  3. Dixon, R. M. W. (2002). Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development. Cambridge University Press. p. xxxiv.
  4. "E23: Yuggera". Australian Indigenous Languages Database. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. "E66: Yugarabul". Australian Indigenous Languages Database. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. "Oxford English Dictionary". www.oed.com. p. 2054. Retrieved 12 October 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. "Meanjin debacle: erasing Aboriginal words in order to highlight white women's appropriation". NITV. 6 June 2018.
  8. This Wikipedia article incorporates text from Turrubul published by the State Library of Queensland under CC-BY licence, accessed on 14 June 2022.
  9. This Wikipedia article incorporates text from Jagara published by the State Library of Queensland under CC-BY licence, accessed on 14 June 2022.
  10. This Wikipedia article incorporates text from Yugarabul published by the State Library of Queensland under CC-BY licence, accessed on 14 June 2022.
  11. This Wikipedia article incorporates text from Yuggera published by the State Library of Queensland under CC-BY licence, accessed on 14 June 2022.

Further reading


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