Gathang language

The Gathang language, also spelt Gadjang, Katang, Kattang, Kutthung, Gadhang, Gadang and previously known as Worimi (also spelt Warrimay), is an Australian Aboriginal language or group of dialects. The three known dialects are Birrbay, Guringay, and Warrimay, which are used by the Worimi, Guringay, and Birrbay peoples. It went extinct during the latter half of the 20th century, but has been revived in the 21st century.

After the colonisation of Australia, many of the hundreds of Aboriginal languages fell into disuse. The Worimi people comprised 18 clan groups (ngurras), all of whom spoke Gathang. The four ngurras of the Port Stephens area moved to the settlement at Carrington to work at the Australian Agricultural Company, and over the years lost their language and culture as they learnt European ways. Many Worimi people were forced into missions and reserves.^[2]

In 1887: E.M. Curr published the first word list of the Gathang language, which had been compiled by John Branch, and in 1900, W.J. Enright published a description and word list. In 1929, American linguist Gerhardt Laves worked with Gathang speakers Charlie Briggs, Bill Dungie, Charlie Bugg, Jim Moy, Albert Lobban, Hannah Bugg, Susan Russell, Ted Lobban, and Mrs Russell.^[3] During the 1960s, Swedish linguist Nils Holmer made recordings of two Worimi elders, Eddie Lobban and Fred Bugg, and compiled a grammar of the Gathang language.^[2][4][3]

For many years the language appeared to be extinct, but revitalisation has been under way in the 21st century. In 2010, A Grammar and Dictionary of Gathang: The Language of the Birrbay, Guringay and Warrimay, by Amanda Lissarrague, was published,^[5] and the Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative started running classes in Taree, Forster, and Port Macquarie. The number of speakers soon grew, and classes were introduced at TAFEs, schools, and within family groups.^[3] As of 2014, there were 40 recorded speakers of the language, and by 2018-2019 there were more than a thousand,^[6] after work had been done on reviving the language.^[7] Today, books, songs, dance, storytelling, and language workshops are all used to help revive and preserve the language,^[2] and it is being studied at PhD level.^[3]

Gathang is closely related to Awabakal, in the Yuin–Kuric group of Pama–Nyungan.^[6] Gathang is the language name covering three dialects: Birrbay, Guringay, and Warrimay.^[3]

The phonology of the language was recorded by Enright.^[8] The description that follows was extracted from the updated phonology by Amanda Lissarague (2010).^[5]

También existe el diptongo "ay", que se pronuncia [aj].

En la ortografía , se escriben tanto oclusivas sordas como sonoras ; las palabras comienzan solo con oclusivas sonoras, y solo estas pueden aparecer en grupos consonánticos o sufijos. Existe cierta inconsistencia en la ortografía respecto a la elección de la oclusiva intervocálica. El diccionario/gramática de Lissarrague prescribe oclusivas sordas intervocálicas, pero esto se incumple en muchas ocasiones, como en magu (hacha). Los fonemas /p/ y /b/ pueden contrastar, como en gaparr (bebé, niño) y gabarr (cabeza). Esto no está claro. ^{[ 5 ]}

Hay cierta evidencia de una fusión de las oclusivas/ nasales dentales y palatales , con variación libre que existe en muchas palabras, como djinggarr~dhinggarr - plata, gris. ^{[ 5 ]}

Al final de una palabra, una nasal también puede pronunciarse como su oclusiva correspondiente. (Ej. bakan~bakat - roca). ^{[ 5 ]}

Entre vocales, la "b" puede pronunciarse como [v]. ^{[ 5 ]}

Algunas palabras de Gathang son: ^{[ 2 ]}

• Barrgan ( bumeranes )
• Wamarr ( woomeras)
• Ganay ( palos para cavar )
• Garrigay ( mirto silvestre )
• Buwatja (comida)
• Ngapuwi (agua dulce)
• Duumala ( arroyos )
• Bami (ríos)
• Ganya ( chozas de corteza )
• Wirray (arbusto)

Hay muchos topónimos en Nueva Gales del Sur que tienen nombres atribuidos en el idioma Gathang, entre ellos: ^{[ 2 ]}

• Birubi (" Cruz del Sur " o "vista de la Cruz del Sur")
• Tanilba ("lugar de flores blancas")
• Mallabula ("pantano entre dos montañas")
• Karuah ("lugar del ciruelo nativo ")
• Pindimar ("lugar de zarigüeyas negras ")

• Dixon, RMW (2002). Lenguas australianas: su naturaleza y desarrollo . Cambridge University Press. p. xxxiv, etc. ISBN 0521473780.

• Bibliografía sobre el pueblo Worimi y sus recursos lingüísticos , en el Instituto Australiano de Estudios Aborígenes e Isleños del Estrecho de Torres.
• El dialecto Kutthung o Kattang