Bunuban
Geographic
distribution
around Fitzroy Crossing, Kimberley region
Linguistic classificationOne of the world's primary language families
Subdivisions
Glottologbuna1274
Bunuban languages (purple), among other non-Pama-Nyungan languages (grey)

The Bunuban languages (or Bunaban) are a small family of Australian Aboriginal languages spoken in northern Australia. The family consists of two languages, Bunuba and Gooniyandi, which are related to each other to about the same degree that English is related to Dutch. Bunuba has about 100 speakers and Gooniyandi about 400. Both are endangered.

Vocabulary

Capell (1940) lists the following basic vocabulary items:[1]

English BunabaGunian
man gujɽämajuwulu
woman wiːjimaŋo
head guŋguluwalu
eye mulumɔːlu
nose wuɽamanili
mouth djäläṉdaŋandi
tongue djäländjäläṉ
stomach giniŋadjulu
bone gudjugudji
blood giliwari
kangaroo wandjiriwandjiri
opossum läŋgurdjämbidjin
emu ganaŋandja
crow waŋgaɳawaŋgide
fly ŋirinjiŋurinj
sun gawaramiri
moon gilimanadjaːlin
fire windäliweandi
smoke bindjawangi
water gaɽwagaːmba

References

  1. Capell, Arthur. 1940. The Classification of Languages in North and North-West Australia. Oceania 10(3): 241-272, 404-433. doi:10.1002/j.1834-4461.1940.tb00292.x
  • McGregor, William (2004). The Languages of the Kimberley, Western Australia. London, New York: Taylor & Francis. pp. 39–40.
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