Yaygir, also spelt Yaygirr or Yegir, is an Australian Aboriginal language. It was spoken by the Yaygir people in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.
| Yaygir | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Australia |
| Region | New South Wales |
| Ethnicity | Yaygir people |
| Extinct | 1-10 (2018–2019)[1] |
Pama–Nyungan
| |
| Dialects | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | xya |
| Glottolog | yayg1236 |
| AIATSIS[2] | E10 |
| ELP | Yaygir |
There are attempts to revitalise the language, including the publication of a dictionary in 2012.[3]
Phonology
editVowels
edit| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | i iː | u uː | |
| Low | a aː |
Consonants
edit| Labial | Alveolar/ Retroflex |
Palatal | Velar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plosive | b | d | ɟ | ɡ |
| Nasal | m | n | ɲ | ŋ |
| Lateral | l | |||
| Trill | r r̥ | |||
| Approximant | w | ɻ | j |
Basic phrases
editThese are some basic phrases provided by the Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative.[5]
| English | Yaygir |
|---|---|
| Hello there! | Yuu! |
| How are you? | Ginagay? |
| Pleased to meet you. | Ibirr ngina nyaagigu. |
| Are you feeling well? | Ngindadi darhuyay mabu? |
| I’m feeling good. | Darhuyay ngaya mabu. |
| I’m not feeling good. | Yawiirray ngaya mabu. |
| I’m sick . | Ngaya wigun. |
| Do well! | Darhuya ngiinda! |
| Thank you / Congratulations. | Darhuyay irriirring. |
| Goodbye / I’m going. | Ngaya dyaarri yaarrang. |
| Dyaarri yaarrang. | |
| Please. | Irriiri-nda. |
| Please don’t. | Wanaa-nda. |
| Yes. | Ngii. |
| No. | Wadyi. |
| What’s your name? | Warha nguunu waambarr? |
| My name is ___. | Ngaanyu waambarr ___. |
| I’ll see you! | Ngadya ngina nyaawi! |
| I am Yaygirr. | Adyi ngaya Yaygirr. |
| I live here at Maclean / Yamba. | Adyi ngaya nginagandyi Birriin-da / Gulaany-dya. |
| Welcome to Maclean / Yamba. | Darhuyay yarraanay Birriinda / Gulaany-dya. |
| This is Yaegl country. | Adyi Yaygirr wadyarr. |
| I remember our ancestors from long ago. | Adyi ngadya arraygi Yayarr yangidawu. |
| I remember my Elder men and Elder women. | Adyi ngadya arraygi ngulungginy, ngamiiga. |
| This ends here. | Wadyiiway. |
References
edit- ^ E10 Yaygir language at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
- ^ E10 Yaygir at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
- ^ Morelli, Steve (2012). Yaygirr Dictionary and Grammar. Nambucca Heads: Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ^ a b Morelli, Steve (2012). Yaygirr Dictionary and Grammar. Nambucca Heads: Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ "Yaygirr". Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
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