Djabugay language
endangered Australian Aboriginal language
Djabugay (or Djabuganjdji; see below for other names) is an endangered Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Djabugay people with 81 native speakers at the 2021 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
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
Yidiny language
References
Further reading
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Language Wordlists: Djabugay Everyday Words, published by State Library of Queensland under CC-BY license, accessed 17 May 2022.
The public source identifies “Djabugay language” as endangered Australian Aboriginal language. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Djabugay, language and endangered.
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