yolngu.net/yolngu.html

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Yolngu is a language variety spoken in much of Australia's Northern Territory, including the area known as Arnhem land. It is a member of the Pama-Nyungan family of languages, and as such, shares many features with other languages found in Australia. The word 'yolŋu' itself means 'man' or 'person' in English, and may also refer in particular to the Yolngu people.

Yolngu land

 

A Map of Aboriginal Australian Nations

 

Yolngu Pronunciation

Yolngu pronunciation is similar to German, Indonesian, Italian or Spanish, insofar as it is pronounced relatively consistently in relation to its written form. Most of the consonants are similar to English, so with a little practice it shouldn't be too hard to master the majority of Yolngu pronunciation.

Yolngu Pronunciation Guide:

A, a = uh as English but, or pizza, not as fat, or fate

Ä, ä = ah as English harm (without the -rrr sound)

E, e = e as English met, not as mere

I, i = i as English bit, not as bite

O, o = o as English hot, not as hope

U, u = u as English put, or foot, not as putt, purge, tulip

Ŋ, ŋ = ng as English sing, not as jungle, or finger (there is no -g as in get in the ŋ sound)

tj = ch as English choose, or catch

dj = j as English judge

th = th as English think, not as leather

dh = th as English leather, not as think

t = t as English t, but with the tongue curled around, so that the bottom of the tip touches the roof of the mouth. This sound is rare outside of Indian and Indigenous Australian languages.

d = d as English d, but pronounced with the tongue in the same position as the t listed above.

 

Links:

Charles Darwin University's Yolngu Language and Culture website

http://learnline.cdu.edu.au/yolngustudies/

 

Open Universities Australia (they provide access to Yolngu courses via CDU, which may be used as credit for a range of undergraduate degrees)

https://www.open.edu.au/wps/portal

 

Wikipedia article on Yolngu language varieties

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yolngu_Matha

 

Music sung in Yolngu language by Gurrumul Yunupingu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bawDFY8G-o4

 

Links to additional Yolngu language resources

http://www.ards.com.au/langresources.htm