Talk:Paakantyi language

Ethnologue Link Doesn't Work Properly

The ISO link can redirect to the correct Ethnologue link. 121.209.192.48 (talk) 23:19, 3 December 2011 (UTC) Ian Ison

Comments from a native speaker

text moved here from article to be evaluated and perhaps better presented. Elinruby (talk) 08:11, 17 May 2024 (UTC)

We did cross the Murray by bark canoes to meet the river people back early last century. My learnings began when the Elder's Gumarah (Head Elder of the River People (at Mildura), and also Bandicoot (Head Elder from Bourke) began my teachings from the age of six, some sixty six years ago.. Both have gone to the Dreamtime so we never say their first names now. For it is the Clan law. I am a fifth generation nominated Elder of the Barkintji and am reasonably fluent in the language for whence I began the learnings in Broken Hill and also at Myall Station. Barkintji broken down means - Bark - the river red gums bark, - Int - the inside of the gums, and dtji - the water that flows through the roots from the river into the trees for their life. My name. "Mewe" is the cry of the silver gull in the inland fresh waters and it also refers to the sea gull in the salt waters. Some of our clan met and had relations with the clan at Mount Gambier and also Goolwa at the Turwitcherie Barrages, when applying stones on the river and sea bed when fishing for callop, cod, shark and the giant mulloway at the barrage entrance. The map to the right does show the extent of our clan territories but does not show right down to the Turwitcherie, nor into Victoria around Mildura. I am one of the 111 people of the 2021 census that speak Paakantyl at home.

— User:Philip Mewe