Bunuba language
Bunuba | |
---|---|
Bunaba, Bunapa, Punuba, Punapa, Punaba, Buniba | |
Native to | Western Australia |
Region | Kimberley (Western Australia) |
Ethnicity | Bunuba |
Native speakers | 150 (2021 census)[1] |
Bunuban
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | bck |
Glottolog | buna1275 |
AIATSIS[2] | K5 |
ELP | Bunuba |
Bunuba Country near Fitzroy Crossing, Kimberley Region of Western Australia |
Bunuba (Bunaba, Bunapa, Punuba, Punapa, Punaba, Buniba) is an
Due to the growing concern of their language becoming extinct, the elders to maintain the use of Bunuba by passing on stories to younger community members around campfires at night. This is a way for Bunuba elders to prevent the extinction of their language, by passing it down through generations.[7] Language maintenance and revival has increased during the later decades of the 20th century and the early 21st century due to the growing documentation of Bunuba language, and the production of resources that have been written and used by Bunuba community members.
History of research on Bunuba
Early phase (late 19th century – 1929)
The first distinctions made between the
Intermediate phase (1930–1959)
From 1938 to 1989 Australian linguist, Arthur Capell visited the Northern Territory to record features of Kimberley Languages including Bunuba.[8] Capell's studies were published in 1940 in the journal article The Classification of Languages in North and North-West Australia.[9] His written work is now located at Canberra's Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. A New Approach to Australian Linguistics published by Capell in 1956 details the classifications and typologies of Australian Aboriginal languages, including those of the Kimberley (Western Australia).[10]
Modern phase (1960 – present)
The modern phase of Australian Aboriginal Language research employs a
Classification
Bunuba is a
Arthur Capell's classification
Capell classified Bunuba as a non-classifying language of the Fitzroy basin region, alongside Guniyandi.[9] Bunuba is non-classifying in that it does not rely on the use of noun classes nor grammatical gender.[8] For example, Bunuba does not have gendered pronouns, rather it uses a singular 'they' pronoun niyiŋga for third-person singular 'he', 'she', and 'it'.[11]
Related languages
Bunuba Country is surrounded by other
Non-Pama-Nyungan Language | Percentage of Similarity |
---|---|
Guniyandi | 45% |
Ungarinyin | 24% |
Walmajarri | 24% |
Kija | 20% |
Unggumi | 20% |
Nyikina | 15% |
Warrwa | 11% |
Relationship to Guniyandi
Although
Dialect variation
There are two regional Bunuba
The main contrast between light and heavy Bunuba dialects is based on the phonological differences that are characteristic of Unggumi.[6] For example, the light Bunuba dialect utilises a /y/ phoneme in place of /yh/ which is more common in the heavy dialect.[6] This variation is present in dialectal differences between the words for 'meat' with light dialect speakers utilising /miya/ and heavy dialect speakers adhering to the older pronunciation of /miyha/. The use of /y/ and /yh/ causes /miya/ and /miyha/ to become a minimal pair.[5][6] Generally, Bunuba dialectal differences do not present problems in understanding between speakers of each dialect.[5]
Phonology
IPA broad transcription is in /slashes/, and orthography spelling in ⟨brackets⟩.
Consonants
Peripheral | Laminal | Apical | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labial | Velar | Palatal | Dental | Alveolar | Retroflex | |
Plosive | /b/ ⟨b⟩ | /g/ ⟨g⟩ | /ɟ/ ⟨j⟩ | / t̪ / ⟨th⟩
|
/ d / ⟨d⟩
|
/ɖ/ ⟨rd⟩ |
Nasal | /m/ ⟨m⟩ | /ŋ/ ⟨ng⟩ | /ɲ/ ⟨ny⟩ | / n̪ / ⟨nh⟩
|
/ n / ⟨n⟩
|
/ɳ/ ⟨rn⟩ |
Rhotic | / r / ⟨rr⟩
|
/ɻ/ ⟨r⟩ | ||||
Lateral | /ʎ/ ⟨ly⟩ | / l / ⟨l⟩
|
/ɭ/ ⟨rl⟩ | |||
Approximant | /w/ ⟨w⟩ | /j/ ⟨y⟩ | /ɹ̪/ ⟨yh⟩ |
Stops and nasals
Bunuba, like some of its neighbouring Kimberley languages, has six articulation points that determine the articulatory differences between stops and nasals.[8] These are bilabial articulation, velar articulation, dental articulation, palatal articulation, alveolar articulation, and retroflex articulation.[8] These are grouped together into more general places of articulation based on tongue placement. Bilabial and velar articulations are grouped together as peripherals because their pronunciation requires articulation at the front and back peripheries of the mouth.[8] Dental and palatal articulations are groups under laminals as they utilise the larger central body of the tongue during pronunciation.[8] Alveolar and retroflex are grouped as apicals because they use the tongue tip.[8]
Generalised place of articulation | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peripheral | Laminal | Apical | ||||
Place of articulation | bilabial | velar | dental | palatal | alveolar | retroflex |
Word initial stops are either voiced or non-aspirated and voiceless.[6] They are also fully voiced when they occur in any other place in a word.[6] In words that are expressively or emotionally emphasised, the stop can become aspirated.[6] For example, when a mother firmly addresses her son with 'son' [‘cʰukʰu].[6]
Laterals
Bunuba utilises three laterals that are common to almost all Kimberley languages: ⟨l⟩, ⟨rl⟩, and ⟨ly⟩.[8] For all three, the tip of the tongue touches the roof of the mouth.[6] The distinguishing articulatory factor is the larger central body of the tongue, which is situated low for ⟨rl⟩, central for ⟨l⟩ and high for ⟨ly⟩.(rum) [ɭ] ⟨rl⟩ is depicted as ⟨l⟩ in Bunuba orthography.[6]
Examples of lateral contrasts:[6]
- balarra 'outside'
- walarri 'ghost gum, snappy gum'
- walyarra 'sand'
Rhotics
Bunuba has two rhotic sounds.
- ⟨rr⟩ [
- ⟨r⟩ [
Glides
The Bunuba [w] and [j] are akin to English pronunciations of ⟨w⟩ and ⟨y⟩ respectively.[8] The pronunciation of the dental glide ⟨yh⟩ requires a lateral spreading of the tongue, with an articulatory point similar to those of ⟨nh⟩ and ⟨th⟩.[6] This glide is unique to Bunuba and the neighbouring language of Unggumi.[6] It is also the distinguishing factor between light and heavy Bunuba dialects.
Vowels
Bunuba has only three basic vowel phonemes: /i, a, u/.
/a/ is the only vowel demonstrating contrastive vowel length.[5]
Front | Central | Back | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
High
|
/i/ ⟨i⟩ | /u/ ⟨u⟩ | ||
Low
|
short | /a/ ⟨a⟩ | ||
long | /aː/ ⟨aa⟩ |
Grammar
Parts of Speech
Nominals
Nominals in Bunuba are free lexemes which morphemes can be added to.[6] This is central to its distinction as a polysynthetic language.
Verbal words
Bunuba verbs contain affixes; a preverb, and an auxiliary.[6] Depending on the verb, the two affixes can take on individual word meanings, or add meaning to the root verb.[6]
Adverbs
Bunuba adverbs are not the same as aforementioned verbal words, as they are standalone words which affixes cannot be added on to.[6]
Pronouns
Pronouns contain numeric distinctions in the root of the word.[6]
Kin terms
Bunuba
Reduplication
Bunuba utilises reduplication to indicate plurality.[8] Bunuba uses both partial and total reduplication.[8] Partial reduplication requires a repetition of only a certain part of the root word, whilst total reduplication uses a repetition of the whole root word.[8]
For example:[8]
- In reference to a group of children: ma-mabilyi 'little ones' stemming from mabilyi 'little'
- In reference to the husbands of multiple women: nhungu-nhungu-way 'their husbands' stemming from nhungu-way 'her husband'
Reduplication is also used in Bunuba to intensify words.[8]
For example:[8]
- gililandirri 'very big' stemming from gilandirri 'big'
Typology
Morphological Typology
Bunuba is a polysynthetic language; words consist of multiple morphemes, which can also have meanings independent of their position in a polysynthetic word.[6]
Documentation and revival
Kimberley Language Resource Centre
The Kimberley Language Resource Centre (KLRC) was established in 1984 with the role of revitalising, maintaining, and promoting Australian Aboriginal languages.[12]
Community engagement
A main aim of KLRC is to assist with career opportunities that cater to the cross-cultural and language needs of Kimberley language groups.[12] This is done by providing training for community members of language groups in order to increase chances of employment in sectors that can cater to their linguistic needs.[12]
Bunuba orthography
Prior to 1989, linguistic research on Bunuba has not followed a specific orthography, leading to possible discrepancies between lexical items. To improve linguistic clarity, KLRC assisted approximately twenty local Bunuba speakers in producing an orthography for the language in 1989.[6] The orthography was then utilised in 1991 to create an illustrated Bunuba wordbook that continues to be used in the teaching and learning of the language.[6]
Written, audio, and video documentation
KLRC owns archives of linguistic material from the 1950s until present, that have been provided by Australian linguists and language workers who have researched Aboriginal languages of the Kimberley Region.[6] Apart from storing archival material at the resource centre, KLRC works alongside the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) to return language resources back to Indigenous communities.[12] Resources include documentation from Howard Coate's research on Bunuban languages.[6] To increase the revitalisation and maintenance of Bunuba, KLRC owns archival documents of the language in audio, video, and book formats.[13]
Thangani Bunuba (Bunuba Stories)
Thangani Bunuba is a collection of stories told by twelve Bunuba elders from the Fitzroy River region.[14] The creation of this book was a project that aimed to revive and maintain the Bunuba language and was undertaken at the request of the Bunuba elders who sought after a way for the language to be preserved.[14] The elders worked alongside linguists and language workers from the KLRC in order to translate the stories into English.[14]
Stories were shared by the elders alongside the traditional paintings that are featured in the book.[14] The process of creating this book required audio recordings of each story to be produced, which were able to be transcribed and later translated into English by Bunuba speakers and linguists.[14] The book also contains a 'Guide to Bunuba Pronunciation' which consists of an orthography of Bunuba with a phonetic assistance based on English pronunciation of the same vowels and consonants.[14]
Bunuba in theatre
The Story of Jandamarra
Jandamarra (stage play)
The production of the 2008 stage play was based on the 1995 historical book Jandamarra and the Bunuba Resistance written in collaboration between historian Howard Pedersen and Bunuba elder Banjo Woorunmurra, of whom the story of Jandamarra was under senior custodianship.[16][17] The story of Jandamarra was adapted into the stage play Jandamarra which was produced by the Bunuba run company, Bunuba Films in co-production with the Black Swan State Theatre Company.[16][18] The stage play went on tour as The Jandamarra Returns Tour (2011) which ran from July to August, with thirteen performances altogether.[19] Tour locations included Broome, Kununurra, Lundja Community of Halls Creek, and Windjana Gorge, amassing 5,097 total audience members.[19]
To immerse audiences into the Bunuban storyline, a conscious decision was made by playwright, Steve Hawke to use Bunuba language and
References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021). "Cultural diversity: Census". Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ K5 Bunuba at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
- ^ Anonymous (26 July 2019). "K5: Bunuba". collection.aiatsis.gov.au. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ ISBN 9789027205698.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Knight, Emily (2004). Aspects of Bunuba grammar and semantics. Armidale: University of New England.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Rumsey, Alan. "Bunuba". In Dixon, R.M.W; Blake, B. J. (eds.). The Handbook of Australian Languages Volume 5. Oxford. pp. 35–154.
- ^ Language: Bunuba, Australia, retrieved 29 June 2019
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w McGregor, William B. (2004). The Languages of the Kimberley, Western australia. Routledge.
- ^ .
- ^ a b c d Capell, Arthur. A New Approach to Australian Linguistics. University of Sydney.
- ^ Greenhill, S (2021). "Language: Bunuba". Pronoun Paradigms Database. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d "KLRC | About". Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ Kimberley Language Resource Centre. (2020). Strategic Plan August 2020 Consultation Draft. Kimberley Language Resource Centre. https://klrc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/KLRC-Strategic-Plan-August-2020-consultation-draft.pdf
- ^ a b c d e f Kimberley Language Resource Centre. (1998). Thangani Bunuba: Bunuba Stories. Kimberley Language Resource Centre.
- ^ a b c d Pedersen, Howard, "Jandamarra (1870–1897)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 10 January 2022
- ^ a b "Jandamarra - Bunuba Films". www.jandamarra.com.au. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Howard Pedersen". Magabala Books. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Jandamarra - The Play". www.jandamarra.com.au. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "Jandamarra - The Yilimbirri Junba". www.jandamarra.com.au. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ Laurie, Victoria (31 January 2008). "Warrior's Language of Resistance" (PDF). The Australian. p. 14. Retrieved 8 January 2022.