| Nyulnyulan | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | along Fitzroy River, Dampier Peninsula in the Kimberley region |
| Linguistic classification | One of the world's primary language families |
| Subdivisions |
|
| Glottolog | nyul1248 |
 Nyulnyulan languages (purple), among other non-Pama-Nyungan languages (grey) | |
The Nyulnyulan languages are a small family of closely related Australian Aboriginal languages spoken in northern Western Australia. Most languages in this family are extinct, with only three extant languages, all of which are almost extinct.
The languages form two branches established on the basis of lexical and morphological innovation.[1]
Capell (1940) lists the following basic vocabulary items for the Nyulnyulan languages:[2]
| gloss | Bard | Njulnjul | Jauor | Njigina | Warrwa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| man | aːmba | waːmb | waːmba | waːmba | waːmba |
| woman | ɔranj | worinj | djando | djando | djando |
| head | nalm | nalm | maru | maru | ŋalma |
| eye | nem | nem | bani | nimelgar | nimelgar |
| nose | nimäl | nimäl | ?nimäl | ŋunidjina | ŋunidjina |
| mouth | niler | niler | djawa | niler | niler |
| tongue | neaŋal | neaŋal | djälän | djälän | djälän |
| stomach | noŋ | noŋ | ŋalu | nuŋu | noŋ |
| bone | gɛndj | gɛndj | gändji | gändji | gändji |
| blood | welgar | welgar | gunbulu | gunbulu | gunbulu |
| kangaroo | buru | bardjani, burug | bardjanan | bardjani | bardjani |
| opossum | läŋgur | läŋgur | goiɛ | läŋgur | guɳɖuman |
| emu | inini | winin | ganaŋandja | ganaŋandja | ganaŋandja |
| crow | waŋgede | waŋged | djawari | waŋgaɳa | waŋgide |
| fly | mogonj | mogonj | bɛːrambin | waɳmin | waɳmin |
| sun | alg | waːlg | waːlga | baɽa | waːlga |
| moon | gunjul | gunjul | giliban | gilinman, giridin | giliman, giridin |
| fire | djuŋgu | djuŋgu | djuŋgu | djuŋgu | djuŋgu |
| smoke | gungud | gungud | ŋuɽun | duwi | duwi |
| water | wol, uŋgur | wol, wuŋgur | wula | wela | wela |
Some lexical isoglosses between Proto-Western Nyulnyulan and Proto-Eastern Nyulnyulan:[3]
| gloss | Proto-Western Nyulnyulan | Proto-Eastern Nyulnyulan |
|---|---|---|
| rotten | *biini | *mandu |
| leaf | *bilibil | *wirrkiny |
| bush country | *bindan | *birra |
| kangaroo | *burruk | *barrjaniny |
| tree, stick | *bardangk | *baalu |
| arrive, come | *darr | *-bula |
| yes | *iyi | *ngawayi |
| later, soon | *karrm | *wanyji |
| egg | *lakurr | *kambiy |
| good | *layib | *maabu |
| nose | *-mal | *nguni |
| seek | *-mi | *-murungu |
| knowledgeable | *-mungk | *nila |
| small | *murrul | *wuba |
| mud | *ngijil | *jabula ~ *jakula |
| sister | *marrir | *ngunu |
| forehead | *-nkarra | *jirrbal |
| thigh | *-nmurr | *balngany |
| tail | *-warla | *makarra |
| woman | *wurany | *jarndu |
| Proto-Nyulnyulan | |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction of | Nyulnyulan languages |
The following reconstruction of Proto-Nyulnyulan is from Stokes and McGregor (2003):[3]
| no. | gloss | Proto-Nyulnyulan |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | and | *a |
| 2. | head | *-alma |
| 3. | child | *baaba |
| 4. | scorpion | *baarn |
| 5. | deaf (ENN forget) | *bab |
| 6. | brother (older) (B+) | *babala |
| 7. | paperbark coolamon | *bakarl |
| 8. | when | *bana |
| 9. | feather (ENN bird) | *bandal |
| 10. | carpet snake | *baninyburu |
| 11. | smell | *-banyju |
| 12. | poison for stunning fish | *banyjud |
| 13. | east | *banu |
| 14. | full up | *-bardika |
| 15. | cover over, extinguish | **-barnd |
| 16. | goanna | *barni |
| 17. | exchange, reflexive/reciprocal IV | *-barnj |
| 18. | think | *-barribarri |
| 19. | wallaby | *barrjaniny |
| 20. | cold season, winter | *barrkana |
| 21. | turkey, bustard | *barrkar |
| 22. | catfish | *barulu |
| 23. | behind | *baybirr |
| 24. | shade | *biika |
| 25. | twinkle, twitch | *bilbil |
| 26. | aggressive, wild, angry, fight | *bili |
| 27. | soul, spirit | *bilyurr |
| 28. | butterfly, moth | *bindabinda |
| 29. | long pearlshell pendant | *binyjabinyja |
| 30. | bark coolamon | *binyjin |
| 31. | spring | *birlarr |
| 32. | hit, kill | *-bu |
| 33. | flower | *bubu |
| 34. | nape of neck | *buda |
| 35. | dream, dreamtime | *bukarri |
| 36. | middle, in between, on the way | *bulngurru |
| 37. | tired, exhausted | *bulyji |
| 38. | bite | *-bundarr(a) |
| 39. | shit, excrement | *burda |
| 40. | dance | *burrb |
| 41. | string | *burrurr |
| 42. | camp, place, country | *buru |
| 43. | blow | *buu |
| 44. | ant species | *buya |
| 45. | hammer | *da |
| 46. | deaf | *dakidaki |
| 47. | chin, lower jaw | *dangku |
| 48. | turn | *dibirr |
| 49. | kidney | *dilba |
| 50. | fly | *dumbarra |
| 51. | drink | *-(i)bi |
| 52. | ask | *-jabala |
| 53. | see | *-jala |
| 54. | pelican | *jalinymarr |
| 55. | fall | *-jalku |
| 56. | magic power, healing potential | *jalngka |
| 57. | doctor (medicine man) | *jalngkangurru |
| 58. | cousin | *jalwal |
| 59. | mother’s father (MF) | *jam |
| 60. | axe | *jamiyunu |
| 61. | wife’s father (WF) | *jamunyarri |
| 62. | where | *jana |
| 63. | tread, step, trample | *-janbu |
| 64. | calf | *jangkala |
| 65. | break | *-jangkulu |
| 66. | split | *ja(r)l |
| 67. | harmonic generation | *jarndu |
| 68. | lift up, carry | *jarrbard |
| 69. | tooth | *jarringk |
| 70. | say, do | *-ji ~ *-di |
| 71. | downwards | *jidlarra |
| 72. | boomerang | *jiiba |
| 73. | down, below, inside | *jimbin |
| 74. | spear type | *jinal |
| 75. | shooting star | *jirirr |
| 76. | sing | *jirrmu |
| 77. | corpse | *jiwarri |
| 78. | tell | *-julnga |
| 79. | fire | *jungku |
| 80. | suck | *juny |
| 81. | run | *jurnk |
| 82. | downwards | *jurr |
| 83. | snake | *jurru |
| 84. | pour out | *jur(r)urr |
| 85. | carry | *-ka |
| 86. | bone | *kaanyji |
| 87. | father’s mother | *kabali |
| 88. | liver (ENN, except Jk guts) | *kabir |
| 89. | ashes (cold) | *kajurd |
| 90. | lose, drop | *-kalbarr |
| 91. | up, above | *kalbu |
| 92. | already, finished | *kaliya |
| 93. | father’s father (FF) | *kalurd |
| 94. | mother’s mother (MM) | *kamirda |
| 95. | murderer, ritual killer | *kanarbin |
| 96. | become fat/well nourished | *-kanb |
| 97. | laugh | *-ka(n)ma |
| 98. | spit, saliva | *kararr |
| 99. | enter, go in | *-kard |
| 100. | clapsticks | *karn- |
| 101. | kangaroo species, large | *karrabulu |
| 102. | shield | *karrbina |
| 103. | call out | *kawu |
| 104. | choke, strangle | *kiny |
| 105. | this, he, she, it | *kinya |
| 106. | brolga | *kudarrawany |
| 107. | two | *kujarra |
| 108. | west | *kularr |
| 109. | frill-necked lizard | *kulamana |
| 110. | sleep | *kulin |
| 111. | yellow | *kumbarri |
| 112. | blood | *kunbulu |
| 113. | carry on shoulder, shoulder | *kundi |
| 114. | brain, spinal marrow | *kunykuny |
| 115. | saltwater turtle | *kurlibil |
| 116. | dingo | *kurridi |
| 117. | sky | *kurrwal |
| 118. | blood | *kururr |
| 119. | pearlshell | *kuwan |
| 120. | ear | *-lababa |
| 121. | climb | *lakal |
| 122. | hear | *-lakarra |
| 123. | dry | *lalka |
| 124. | ear passage | *-lamarr |
| 125. | throat, neck | *langan |
| 126. | know, understand, recognise | *-langka |
| 127. | possum | *langkurr |
| 128. | steal, abduct | *lanyb |
| 129. | fat, grease | *layda |
| 130. | sour taste | *limba |
| 131. | sour taste | *linyju |
| 132. | saltwater crocodile | *linykurra |
| 133. | mouth | *-lirr |
| 134. | heart, emotion | *liyan |
| 135. | blue-tongue lizard | *lungkura |
| 136. | bum | *-lurru |
| 137. | put | *-ma |
| 138. | afternoon | *majal |
| 139. | path, road | *makirr |
| 140. | bag, coolamon | *malbulu |
| 141. | nose | *-mal(ul) |
| 142. | shadow, reflected image | *-mandarr |
| 143. | bustard, scrub turkey | *mangkayarra |
| 144. | throat | *-manya |
| 145. | arm, hand | *-marla |
| 146. | hungry | *marr- |
| 147. | bum | *-marra |
| 148. | shadow, reflection | *-marraj |
| 149. | head | *marru |
| 150. | vegetable food | *mayi |
| 151. | armpit | *-mbarrma |
| 152. | foot | *-mbala |
| 153. | male of species | *mida |
| 154. | shin, knee | *-midi |
| 155. | lie, untruth | *miila |
| 156. | be sitting down | *mijala |
| 157. | arise, get up, wake up | *-milka |
| 158. | stick implement | *milkin |
| 159. | ankle, joint | *mil(y)ku |
| 160. | grandparent/grandchild (diminutive) | *mimi |
| 161. | eye | *-miny |
| 162. | only | *minyjan |
| 163. | club, nulla nulla | *nawurla |
| 164. | devil, bad spirit | *ngaarri |
| 165. | woomera | *ngabaliny |
| 166. | spongy, hollow | *ngak |
| 167. | cry | *-ngalka |
| 168. | breast | *ngamarna |
| 169. | language, speech, speak | *nganka |
| 170. | interrogative particle | *nganyji |
| 171. | leave | *-ngarl |
| 172. | night? | *ngimbirr |
| 173. | belly | *-ngu |
| 174. | alone, by oneself | *ngudirr |
| 175. | throw | *-ngula |
| 176. | beard (WNN feelers of catfish) | *ngul(y)ku |
| 177. | ashes | *ngurlun |
| 178. | piss, urine | *ngurndu |
| 179. | night | *ngurra |
| 180. | be, sit | *-ni ~ *-nga |
| 181. | sandhill | *niimar(r) |
| 182. | flying fox | *nimanburru |
| 183. | true, really | *ningarra |
| 184. | tasty, sweet | *niyarra |
| 185. | corroboree, song | *nulu |
| 186. | hot, sweat | *nundurr |
| 187. | alive | *nunyji |
| 188. | fire, (hot) coals | *nurru |
| 189. | get, catch, pick up | *-nya |
| 190. | pierce, spear | *-ra |
| 191. | parent-in-law (male) (WF?, HF) | *rambarr |
| 192. | parent-in-law (female) (WM, HM) | *rangin |
| 193. | pubic covering for initiated man | *riiji |
| 194. | charcoal | *rirrka |
| 195. | eat | *-rli |
| 196. | exchange, return, in turn, barter | *rurrb |
| 197. | anus | *-uru |
| 198. | suddenly, unexpectedly | *waangka |
| 199. | frog type | *walak |
| 200. | sun | *walka |
| 201. | man | *wamba |
| 202. | coolamon type | *wandarl |
| 203. | wind | *wangal |
| 204. | young man | *wangalangu |
| 205. | spider, spiders web, net | *wangkarra |
| 206. | wattle type | *wangkaya |
| 207. | crow | *wangkidi |
| 208. | other | *warany |
| 209. | one | *waranyjarri |
| 210. | north | *wardiya |
| 211. | meat | *warli |
| 212. | rag, cloth | *wara |
| 213. | rib | *wiirri |
| 214. | emu | *winini |
| 215. | louse | *wirnka |
| 216. | taste, try | *-wirrik |
| 217. | give | *-wu |
| 218. | water | *wula |
| 219. | joke, fun | *wungul |
| 220. | crawl | *yadab |
| 221. | husband (H, HB) | *yaku |
| 222. | ahead, front, first | *yalirr |
| 223. | standing | *yalku |
| 224. | south (WNN south wind) | *yalmban |
| 225. | lick | *yaly |
| 226. | tongue | *-yangala |
| 227. | who, what | *yangki |
| 228. | woomera | *yarnkal |
| 229. | no, not | *yarri |
| 230. | father (F, FB) | *yibala |
| 231. | sickness | *yiika |
| 232. | dog | *yila |
| 233. | disharmonic generation | *yinar |
| 234. | wattle type (used for spears) | *yirrakulu |
| 235. | tree type (boomerang) | *yirrkili |
| 236. | descend, sink, go down | *yuwurr |
The following reconstruction of Proto-Western Nyulnyulan is from Stokes and McGregor (2003):[3]
| no. | gloss | Proto-Western Nyulnyulan |
|---|---|---|
| 237. | bad, sick, trouble | *alik |
| 238. | no, not | *arri |
| 239. | open | *baab |
| 240. | belt, girdle | *baali |
| 241. | blind | *bamburr |
| 242. | now, today, when | *banangkarr |
| 243. | groin | *bandakar(r) |
| 244. | praise | *-(ba)ngar |
| 245. | finish | *-bany |
| 246. | stick, tree | *bardangk |
| 247. | skin, bark (of tree) | *bardun |
| 248. | king brown snake | *barnkard |
| 249. | tie | *-barrkand |
| 250. | yesterday | *bayirdi |
| 251. | rotten | *biini |
| 252. | strong, firm, fearless | *biinmal |
| 253. | leaf | *bilibil |
| 254. | bush country | *bindan |
| 255. | bad luck | *bindikal |
| 256. | cold | *binyj |
| 257. | long | *-birndi |
| 258. | mother (M, MZ) | *birray |
| 259. | blunt | *buna |
| 260. | swell up | *-bungkum |
| 261. | kangaroo (generic) | *burruk |
| 262. | arrive, emerge, come | *darr |
| 263. | true | *darrgal |
| 264. | hard (not soft) | *diwa |
| 265. | wipe | *duk |
| 266. | three | *irrjuwarr |
| 267. | yes | *iyi |
| 268. | return | *jakurd |
| 269. | fear | *-jarik |
| 270. | go | *-jid |
| 271. | touch | *-jiding |
| 272. | die | *-jimb |
| 273. | arms akimbo | *jimbijimb |
| 274. | downwards | *jimbilad |
| 275. | stand up, come to a stand | *jirrjirr |
| 276. | wash | *-juluk |
| 277. | back | *-ka |
| 278. | wander about, roam | *-kal |
| 279. | approach, come up to | *-kalak |
| 280. | fire drill | *kalib |
| 281. | scratch | *-kand |
| 282. | vomit | *-kanyb |
| 283. | yam type | *karangkam |
| 284. | body | *-karda |
| 285. | bird | *karrambal |
| 286. | sharp | *karrji |
| 287. | later, soon | *karrm |
| 288. | scent, smell | *kiir |
| 289. | appearance, shape, form | *-kinbal |
| 290. | wet (of object) | *kubad |
| 291. | father | *kubul |
| 292. | squeeze | *kuly |
| 293. | wedge | *kumb |
| 294. | throat | *kurrbal |
| 295. | feather | *laaban |
| 296. | light (not heavy) | *labalab |
| 297. | egg | *lakurr |
| 298. | sit down | *-landa |
| 299. | good | *layib |
| 300. | black | *maanka |
| 301. | far | *maara |
| 302. | wife | *malirr |
| 303. | many | *-mana |
| 304. | leave | *-mankarda |
| 305. | wave (hand) | *-many |
| 306. | sister (Z) | *marrir |
| 307. | goanna | *mayala |
| 308. | search, look for | *-mi |
| 309. | native rat | *mijaw |
| 310. | sing | *-mil |
| 311. | tired | *milamb |
| 312. | choke (on something) | *-mingka |
| 313. | warm, hot (of weather) | *mula |
| 314. | head hair | *mukarn |
| 315. | knowledge, knowledgeable | *-mungku |
| 316. | root | *-mungkul |
| 317. | honey | *mungu |
| 318. | pour, spill out, flow | *-mur |
| 319. | smell | *-murrar |
| 320. | small | *murrulu |
| 321. | soil, make dirty, become dirty | *-ngali |
| 322. | defend, take sides with | *-ngaliny |
| 323. | deny, refuse | *-nga(n)ny |
| 324. | mud | *ngijil |
| 325. | neck (exterior) | *-ngkan |
| 326. | soft | *ngub |
| 327. | dirty | *ngunyb |
| 328. | knee | *ngurrungk |
| 329. | forehead | *-nkarra |
| 330. | thigh | *-nmurr |
| 331. | old man | *nyungurl |
| 332. | dry | *-ralk |
| 333. | warm oneself | *-ramb |
| 334. | heavy | *rambin |
| 335. | suck | *rung |
| 336. | cloud | *wadan |
| 337. | tail | *-wala |
| 338. | lie on back | *walirr |
| 339. | eagle | *warrikana |
| 340. | north | *wardi |
| 341. | rain | *wungur |
| 342. | woman | *wurany |
| 343. | fingernail | *wurrul |
| 344. | elbow | *yalangkun |
| 345. | mother-in-law of man (WM) | *yalirr |
| 346. | together | *yambun |
| 347. | inquest sticks | *yandal |
| 348. | near, close | *yangan |
| 349. | pull | *yarr |
| 350. | native mouse | *yubur(r)yubur(r) |
The following reconstruction of Proto-Eastern Nyulnyulan is from Stokes and McGregor (2003):[3]
| no. | gloss | Proto-Eastern Nyulnyulan |
|---|---|---|
| 351. | tree, stick | *baalu |
| 352. | hither, this way | *bakuna |
| 353. | thigh | *balngan(y)- |
| 354. | smell | *-banyju |
| 355. | thirsty | *barra |
| 356. | hit by throwing | *-barri |
| 357. | kangaroo | *barrjanin |
| 358. | catfish | *barulu |
| 359. | red | *bilyi |
| 360. | bush country | *birra |
| 361. | turn off | *birrb |
| 362. | arrive, come | *-bula |
| 363. | white | *dub |
| 364. | heart | *durlbu |
| 365. | walk, walkabout | *inyja |
| 366. | mud | *jabula ~ *jakula |
| 367. | camp | *jalbi |
| 368. | woman | *jarndu |
| 369. | hip | *jarrbal |
| 370. | forehead | *jirrbal |
| 371. | that | *ka- |
| 372. | eat | *kabu |
| 373. | egg | *kambiy |
| 374. | watch, stare at | *kanyjirr |
| 375. | moon | *kirridiny |
| 376. | body | *karrikin |
| 377. | tie | *-kula |
| 378. | vomit | *kurrbuk |
| 379. | throw | *laj |
| 380. | flesh, muscle | *-lany |
| 381. | good | *maabu |
| 382. | tail | *makarra |
| 383. | rotten, stink | *mandu |
| 384. | spear type | *mangul |
| 385. | many | *manyja |
| 386. | no, not | *marlu |
| 387. | hand | *-marrangka |
| 388. | search, look for | *-murungu |
| 389. | blue-tongue lizard | *ngalyak |
| 390. | yes | *ngawayi |
| 391. | nose | *nguni- |
| 392. | sister (Z) | *ngunu |
| 393. | afternoon | *ngurrangurra |
| 394. | smoke | *ngurun |
| 395. | knowledge, knowledgeable | *nila |
| 396. | eagle-hawk | *walakurru |
| 397. | stone | *wanangarri |
| 398. | cry | *wangkurr |
| 399. | later, soon | *wanyji |
| 400. | dig | *widij |
| 401. | belt | *windirri |
| 402. | big | *wirdu |
| 403. | leaf | *wirrkiny |
| 404. | small | *wuba |
| 405. | rub | *wurr |
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| Africa |
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| Eurasia (Europe and Asia) |
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| New Guinea and the Pacific |
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| Australia |
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| North America |
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| Mesoamerica |
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| South America |
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| Sign languages |
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| See also |
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