Bunuban languages
| Bunuban | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | around Fitzroy Crossing, Kimberley region |
| Linguistic classification | One of the world's primary language families |
| Subdivisions | |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | buna1274 |
 Bunuban languages (purple), among other non-Pama-Nyungan languages (grey) | |
The Bunuban languages (or Bunaban) are a small family of Australian Aboriginal languages spoken in northern Australia. The family consists of two languages, Bunuba and Gooniyandi, which are related to each other to about the same degree that English is related to Dutch. Bunuba has about 100 speakers and Gooniyandi about 400. Both are endangered.
Vocabulary
Capell (1940) lists the following basic vocabulary items:[1]
gloss Bunaba Gunian 'man' gujɽäma juwulu 'woman' wiːji maŋo 'head' guŋgulu walu 'eye' mulu mɔːlu 'nose' wuɽa manili 'mouth' djäläṉ daŋandi 'tongue' djälän djäläṉ 'stomach' giniŋa djulu 'bone' gudju gudji 'blood' gili wari 'kangaroo' wandjiri wandjiri 'opossum' läŋgur djämbidjin 'emu' ganaŋandja 'crow' waŋgaɳa waŋgide 'fly' ŋirinji ŋurinj 'sun' gawara miri 'moon' gilimana djaːlin 'fire' windäli weandi 'smoke' bindja wangi 'water' gaɽwa gaːmba
References
- ^ Capell, Arthur. 1940. The Classification of Languages in North and North-West Australia. Oceania 10(3): 241-272, 404-433. doi:10.1002/j.1834-4461.1940.tb00292.x
- McGregor, William (2004). The Languages of the Kimberley, Western Australia. London, New York: Taylor & Francis. pp. 39–40.