Bunuban languages

Australian Aboriginal language family

Bunuban
Geographic
distribution
around Fitzroy Crossing, Kimberley region
Linguistic classificationOne of the world's primary language families
Subdivisions
  • Bunuba
  • Gooniyandi
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

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

  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.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Australian Aboriginal and Tasmanian languages
Pama–Nyungan
subgroups
Southeastern
Victorian P–N
New South Wales P–N
North Coast
Northern
Paman
Maric
Dyirbalic
Yimidhirr–Yalanji–Yidinic
Gulf
Central
Arandic–Thura–Yura
Karnic
Western
Yolŋu
Ngarna/Warluwarric
Desert Nyungic
South-West P–N
Tangkic
Garrwan
Macro-Gunwinyguan ?
Maningrida
Marran
Gunwinyguan proper
Western
Central
Eastern
YangmanicWagiman?
Other isolates
Iwaidjan
Central (Warrkbi)
Eastern (Goulburn Island)
Southern
Marrku–Wurrugu ?Darwin Region ?
Limilngan–Wulna?
Umbugarlic
Daly River Sprachbund
Wagaydyic (Anson Bay)
Northern Daly
Western Daly
Eastern Daly
Southern Daly
Mirndi
Yirram
Ngurlun
JarrakanBunubanWorrorran
Nyulnyulan
Western (Nyulnyulic)
Eastern (Dyukun)
isolatesTasmanian
family-level groups
Western
Northern
Northeastern
Eastern
New Indigenous
languages and
Aboriginal Englishes
Creoles
Australian Kriol
Northeastern
creoles
Pidgins
Mixed languages
Others
  • v
  • t
  • e
Africa
Isolates
Eurasia
(Europe
and Asia)
Isolates
New Guinea
and the Pacific
Isolates
Australia
Isolates
North
America
Isolates
Mesoamerica
Isolates
South
America
Isolates
(extant in 2000)
Sign
languages
Isolates
See also
  • Families with question marks (?) are disputed or controversial.
  • Families in italics have no living members.
  • Families with more than 30 languages are in bold.