Djabugay language facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Djabugay
Region	Queensland, Australia
Ethnicity	Djabugay, Buluwai, Yirrganydji (Irukandji)
Native speakers	81  (2021 census)
Language family	Pama–Nyungan Paman Djabugay
Dialects	Djabugay Yirrgay (Irrukandji) Bulway Guluy Njagali (Nyagali)
AIATSIS	Y106
Djabugay is classified as Severely Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger

Djabugay (or Djabuganjdji; see below for other names) is an endangered Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Djabugay people with 46 native speakers at the 2016 census. The Djabugay language region includes Far North Queensland, particularly around the Kuranda Range and Barron River catchment, and the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Cairns Regional Council.

Classification

Though sometimes placed in a separate Yidinyic branch of Pama–Nyungan, Bowern (2011) retains Djabugay in its traditional place within the Paman languages.

Dialects

The following languages are confirmed dialects of Djabugay by the AUSTLANG database maintained by Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Djabugay is used both as a language name and a dialect name. Additional names for these languages and/or dialects have been listed after their names but terms do overlap and the lists are not exhaustive.

• Y106: Djabugay / Tjapukai – Barron River dialect, Binggu, Bulum-Bulum, Buluwai, Check-Cull, Chewlie, Dja:bugay, Djabugai, Djabuganjdji, Djabungandji, Dyaabugay, Dyabugandyi, Dyabugay, Hileman, Irukandjai, Kikonjunkulu, Kodgotto, Koko-Tjumbundji, Koko njunkulu, Koko nyungalo, Koko Tjumbundji, Kokonjunkulu, Kokonyungalo, Ngarlkadjie, Njakali, Nyakali, Orlow, Tapelcay, Tcabogai tjanji, Tja:pukanja, Tjabakai-Thandji, Tjabogai tjandji, Tjabogai tjanji, Tjabogaijanji, Tjabogaitjandji, Tjankir, Tjankun, Tjapukandji, Tjapukanja, Tjapunkandji, Tjunbundji, Toabogai tjani, Tuffelcey
• Y110: Bulway – Buluwan dyi, Buluwandji, Buluwandyi, Bulwandji, Bulwandyi
• Y111: Yirrgay – Chumchum, Dingal, Djabungandji, Dungara, Dungarah, Illagona, Irakanji, Irukandji, Tingaree, Tingeree, Umbay, Walpoll, Wongulli, Yerkanji, Yettkie, Yirgandji, Yirgay, Yirkandji, Yirkanji
• Y160: Guluy – Dyaabugay
• Y162: Nyagali – Njagali

Phonology

Consonants

Vowels

Vocabulary

Some words from the Djabugay language, as spelt and written by Djabugay authors include:

• Bulurru: elsewhere known as Dreaming, the source of life.
• Gurrabana: where people and everything in Djabugay society and life is divided between wet and dry, this is the wet season side.
• Gurraminya: where people and everything in Djabugay society and life is divided between wet and dry, this is the dry season side.
• Djirri-nyurra: hello
• Guyu: fish
• Gan gula: kangaroo
• Bulmba: home
• Bana: rain
• Wuru: river
• Bungan: sun

See also

In Spanish: Idioma djabugay para niños

• Yidiny language