Guugu Yalandji, also spelt Kuku-Yalanji, is an Australian Aboriginal languageofQueensland. It is the traditional language of the Kuku Yalanji people.
| Guugu Yalandji | |
|---|---|
| Region | Queensland |
| Ethnicity | Kuku Yalanji, Yungkurara, Kuku Nyungkal, Kokobididji, Kokobujundji, Kokokulunggur, Kokowalandja, Wakara, Wakaman,[a] Djankun, Muluridji, ?Wulpura |
Native speakers | 388 (2021 census)[5] |
| Dialects |
|
| Latin | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Variously:gvn – Kuku-Yalanjidjf – Djangunvmu – Muluridyi |
| Glottolog | yala1261 |
| AIATSIS[7] | Y78 |
| ELP | Kuku-Yalanji |
| Djangun[8] | |
| Muluridyi[9] | |
Despite conflicts between the Kuku Yalanji people and British settlers in Queensland, the Kuku Yalanji language has a healthy number of speakers, and that number is increasing.[when?] Though the language is threatened, the language use is vigorous and children are learning it in schools. All generations of speakers have positive language attitudes.
The Kuku Yalanji still practise their traditional religion, and they have rich oral traditions. Many people in the Kuku Yalanji community also use English. Around 100 Kuku Yalanji speakers can both read and write in Kuku Yalanji.[when?]
Kuku-Yalanji uses the typical three-vowel system, /a, u, i/, used in other Aboriginal Australian languages.[10]
| Front | Back | |
|---|---|---|
| High | i | u |
| Low | a | |
This table uses the standard orthography used by both linguists and the speech community. Where the orthography differs from the IPA representation, the orthography is in brackets.
Stop sounds can range between voiced and voiceless releases.[10]
| Labial | Alveolar | Retroflex | Palatal | Velar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plosive | p ~ b ⟨b⟩ | t ~ d ⟨d⟩ | c ~ ɟ ⟨j⟩ | k ~ ɡ ⟨g⟩ | |
| Nasal | m | n | ɲ ⟨ny⟩ | ŋ ⟨ng⟩ | |
| Approximant | w | l | ɻ ⟨r⟩ | j ⟨y⟩ | |
| Trill | r ⟨rr⟩ |