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Bunuban languages

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Bunuban
Geographic
distribution
around Fitzroy Crossing, Kimberley region
Linguistic classificationOne of the world's primary language families
Subdivisions
Language codes
Glottologbuna1274
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

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Capell (1940) lists the following basic vocabulary items:[1]

English 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

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  1. ^ 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.