Krauatungalung language
| Gunai | |
|---|---|
| Gaanay | |
| Kannai | |
| Region | Gippsland, Victoria, Australia |
| Ethnicity | Gunai people |
| Extinct | (date missing) |
| Revival | 4 (2016 census) |
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Pama–Nyungan
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| Dialects |
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| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Either: |
| Glottolog | gana1279 |
| AIATSIS |
S68 Gunnai (cover term), S49 Bidawal |
Sketch Map of Gippsland - showing approximately the Positions of the Clans of the Kurnai Tribe.
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The Gunai language (also spelt Gunnai, Ganai, Gaanay, Kurnai, Kurnay) is an Australian aboriginal dialect cluster of the Gunai people in Gippsland in south-east Victoria. Bidhawal (Birrdhawal) was either a divergent dialect or a closely related language.
Gunai means 'man'. The language had no traditional name, but each of its dialects was referred to separately.
In a 1996 report to the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages, Clark refers to five Gunai dialects: Brabralung, Braiakalung, Brataualung, Krauatungalung and Tatungalung.
Gunai dialects have been confused with Muk-thang/Bidhawal; there appear to be two distinct languages here, but it's not clear which variety belongs to which.
Like other Victorian languages, Gunai allowed initial ⟨l⟩ in its words. However, it also allowed initial ⟨rr⟩, and well as the clusters ⟨gr⟩ (⟨kr⟩) and ⟨br⟩ (⟨pr⟩). This is quite unusual for an Australian language, and the same pattern was found in the Tasmanian languages across Bass Strait.
Since the early 1990s, the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages (VACL) organisation, established the Yirruk-Tinnor Gunnai/Kŭrnai language program which focused on reviving and reclaiming the Gunnai language of Gippsland. Doris Paton, Coordinator of the Program and Lynnette Solomon-Dent, Language worker and consultant are involved in the program. They have been responsible for developing a number of resource materials to support and educate further knowledge of the Gunnai language and Culture. Lynnette Solomon-Dent co-wrote with Christina Eira the VACL Linguist, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) Aboriginal Languages, cultures and reclamation in Victorian schools: standards P-10 and protocols and were involved in the VCE Revival and Reclamation Study. These teaching documents and resources are collectively used to educate school aged children P-10, VCE, higher learning institutions and the Aboriginal community members, to further their knowledge and allow community members to continue to educate future generations.
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