Kaayi / Yaama

Language is so important to any culture as it so integral to identity. Thankfully there is growing appreciation of the importance of Indigenous languages and the need to preserve them.

Language identifies who we are and where we come from. We use the languages we speak to express all that we feel and know. When we lose a language, we lose the unique knowledge and perspectives of the people that speak it. For tens of thousands of years, hundreds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages have been spoken across Australia. These languages hold a unique and rich part of our heritage.

Studies show that there were about 250 Aboriginal languages in Australia at the time Europeans arrived. These distinct languages had extensive vocabularies and complex grammars. Today, 145 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are still spoken in Australia, however only 18 remain strong, meaning they are spoken by people of all ages.

As much of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history has been passed down orally it is important to the nation that these languages are preserved.

Source: National Indigenous Languages Survey 2005

Here are a few words in Awabakal and Gomeroi (Gamilaraay). You will notice some varied spelling of words because Indigenous languages were passed down orally and not written down. English speaking Europeans wrote down what they thought they heard. For example, they heard a ‘k’ sound at the start of Gamilaroi / Gamilaraay and wrote ‘Kamilaroi’.

Next year we will help children learn words in Awabakal and other languages of some neighbouring areas.

English                       Awabakal                                         Gomeroi (Gamilaraay)    

Hello                          kaayi  (rhymes with ‘eye’)                 yaama

Goodbye /

See you later           nginowa (silent ‘g’)                           yaluu (yarluu)

 

No                               keyawaii (kee-why)                           gamil (garmil)

Yes                              ngaba (nar-bar)                                 yawu (yow)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

Nginowa / Yaluu

Phil Taylor

Aboriginal Education Teacher