Gurindji language
| Gurindji | |
|---|---|
| Gurinji, Korindji, Garundji, Kuurrinjtji | |
| Gurindji | |
| Pronunciation | ɡʊˈrɪndʒɪ |
| Native to | Australia |
| Region | Northern Territory, Australia - Victoria River, Kalkaringi, Daguragu |
|
Native speakers
|
592 (2006)Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census |
|
Pama–Nyungan
|
|
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 |
gue – Gurinji |
| Glottolog |
guri1247 (Gurinji)
|
| AIATSIS |
C20 Gurindji |
Gurindji is a Pama–Nyungan language spoken by the Gurindji people in the Northern Territory, Australia. The Gurindji language is classified as highly endangered, with about 592 speakers remaining and only 175 of those speakers fully understanding the language.Gurindji Kriol is a mixed language that has been derived from the Gurindji language.
Patrick McConvell writes: "Traditional Gurindji today is only generally spoken in private contexts between older people, although it is occasionally used in speeches and newly composed songs"
Patrick McConvell also states: "Gurindji has been taught intermittently for short periods as a subject in the local school over the last twenty-five years but mostly has had no role in the curriculum or in official community functions"
The Gurindji language has borrowed many words from surrounding languages such as Gajirrabeng,Ngaliwurru, Jaminjung, Jaru, Miriwung, and Wardaman.
The Gurindji language is classified under the Pama-Nyungan languages family - as opposed to the Non-Pama-Nyungan languages family, as Indigenous Australia was largely divided into these two classifications.
Gurindji is further classified as a member of the Ngumpin-Yapa sub-group of Pama-Nyungan.
"Gurindji is part of the Eastern Ngumpin branch of the Nyungan-Yapa sub-group. The Eastern Ngumpin languages are among the most northernly Pama-Nyungan languages, in contact with the Non-Pama-Nyungan languages to the north, west, and east"
The last division of the Eastern Ngumpin branch in which Gurindji is a part of is the Victoria River branch.
...
Wikipedia