The Kulin languages are a group of closely related languages of the Kulin people, part of the Kulinic branch of Pama–Nyungan.

Kulin
EthnicityKulin
Geographic
distribution
Victoria
Linguistic classificationPama–Nyungan
Subdivisions
Language codes
Glottolognucl1335
The five Kulin nations

Languages

edit
  • Woiwurrung (Woy-wur-rung): spoken from Mount Baw Baw in the east to Mount Macedon, Sunbury and Gisborne in the west. The Wurrundjeri-willam were a clan who occupied the Yarra River and its tributaries. Referred to initially by Europeans as the Yarra Yarra tribe. Other Woiwurrung clans include the Marin-Bulluk, Kurung-Jang-Bulluk, Wurundjeri-Balluk, Balluk-willam. Wurundjeri is now the common term for descendants of all the Woiwurrung clans.
  • Bunurong (Bun-wurrung): spoken by six clans along the coast from the Werribee River, across the Mornington Peninsula, Western Port Bay to Wilsons Promontory. Referred to by Europeans as the Western Port or Port Philip tribe. The Yalukit-willam clan occupied the thin coastal strip from Werribee, to Williamstown. Bunurong is now the common term for all the people of this language group.
  • Taungurung (Tung-ger-rung): spoken north of the Great Dividing Range in the Goulburn River Valley around Mansfield, Benalla and Heathcote. Referred to by Europeans as the Goulburn River tribe. Taungurung is now the common term for all the people of this language group.[1]
  • Wathaurong (Wadha-wurrung): spoken by 15 clans south of the Werribee River and the Bellarine Peninsula to Streatham. Referred to by Europeans as the Barrabool people. The escaped convict, William Buckley lived with this community for 32 years, between 1803 and 1835, before being found by John Batman on 6 July 1835.
  • Dja Dja Wurrung (Jar-Jar-wur-rung: spoken by the 16 clans of the Jaara or Dja Dja Wurrung people around Bendigo, the central highlands region, east to Kyneton, west to the Pyrenees, north to Boort and south to the Great Dividing Range. Referred to by Europeans as the Loddon Aborigines.

Kulin, or perhaps Kulinic:

Classification

edit

Dixon (2002) accepts the Kulin languages as a family, and sees them as forming three languages:[4]

  • Kulin
    • Wuy-wurrung
      • Wuy-wurrung dialect
      • Bun-wurrung dialect
      • Dhagung-wurrung dialect (the first three entries above)
    • Wadha-wurrung (Wuddyawurru, Witouro)
    • Wemba-Wemba
      • Jaja-wurrung dialect
      • Madhi-Madhi dialect
      • Ladji-Ladji dialect
      • Wadi-Wadi dialect
      • Nari-Nari dialect
      • Wemba-Wemba dialect
      • Baraba-Baraba dialect
      • Wergaya dialect
      • Djadjala dialect
      • Wutjabulak dialect
      • Martijali dialect
      • Buibatyalli dialect
      • Nundatyalli dialect
      • Jab-wurrung dialect
      • Pirt-Koopen-Noot dialect

References

edit
  1. ^ Richard Broome, pp123-125, Aboriginal Victorians: A History Since 1800, Allen & Unwin, 2005, ISBN 1-74114-569-4, ISBN 978-1-74114-569-4
  2. ^ Blake, Barry J.; Hercus, Luise; Morey, Stephen; Ryan, Edward (2011). The Mathi group of languages (PDF). Australian National University. pp. 1–2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 July 2020.
  3. ^ "S15: Bindjali / Bodaruwitj". AIATSIS Collection: AUSTLANG. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  4. ^ Dixon, R. M. W. (2002). Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development. Cambridge University Press. p. xxxv.