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 toAustralia
RegionNew South Wales
EthnicityYaygir people
Extinct1-10 (2018–2019)[1]
Dialects
Language codes
ISO 639-3xya
Glottologyayg1236
AIATSIS[2]E10
ELPYaygir

There are attempts to revitalise the language, including the publication of a dictionary in 2012.[3]

Phonology

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Vowels

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Vowels[4]
Front Central Back
High i      u     
Low a     

Consonants

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Consonants[4]
Labial Alveolar/
Retroflex
Palatal Velar
Plosive b d ɟ ɡ
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Lateral l
Trill r     
Approximant w ɻ j

Basic phrases

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These 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

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  1. ^ E10 Yaygir language at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  2. ^ E10 Yaygir at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  3. ^ Morelli, Steve (2012). Yaygirr Dictionary and Grammar. Nambucca Heads: Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  4. ^ a b Morelli, Steve (2012). Yaygirr Dictionary and Grammar. Nambucca Heads: Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Yaygirr". Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative. Retrieved 25 March 2024.