Aboriginal Languages Around the North of Sydney

Voices of the Past

Merely half a decade has passed since draconian laws existed preventing Aboriginal people from speaking their native tongue. Fortunately, attitudes have changed and we have entered a new era of understanding. The voices from the past are able to speak clearly once more without fear of punishment. There is a dream that in the future these voices of the past can be heard loudly and understood by all.

Languages of New South Wales

In New South Wales alone there are too many language groups to mention them all here. Just to name a few:-

  • Bundjalung
  • Dunghutti
  • Darkinjang
  • Dharuk
  • Karenggapa
  • Ngiyampaa
  • Paakantyi
  • Wiradjuri
  • Wodiwodi
  • Worimi

and many, many more.

The Sydney Language

It is a great shame that there is no name recorded or remembered for the language once spoken by Aboriginal people in the Sydney Basin. The reason for this may be that this region was the first, and possibly the hardest hit by the effects of colonisation. It is often mistakenly believed that the language name for the Sydney area was ‘Eora’ or ‘Iyora’, however this is merely a term in the Sydney Language meaning ‘person’ and was adopted for use as the language name in the mid-twentieth century. Despite the language being regarded as functionally extinct there were many words borrowed by the colonists which are still recognised in English today (eg warada is waratah).

A great number of words from the Sydney language have managed to survive against all odds by word lists compiled from old documents written by colonists who had direct contact with the language and people who once spoke it. The following words are from this language.

Natural Elements

badu
water
bamal
earth
birrung
star
burra
sky
duruga
falling star
garaguru
cloud
giba
stone
gura
wind
guwing
sun
mungi
lightning
murungal
thunder
walan
rain
yanada
moon

Physical Qualities

badjal
sick
bali
thirsty
binya
pregnant
bulgaga
green
dyirra
white
gangat
bald
ganunigang
old
garungarung
pretty
gungun
dead
marrai
wet
mudai
soft
mudung
alive

Location, Direction and Time

barani
yesterday
barawul
far (distance)
barrabugu
tomorrow
baruwa
near
duriyumi
left
gamarruwa
day
guwagu
presently
nguwing
night
nung
now
warrangi
right

Colours of the Aboriginal Flag

ngana
black
yarragal
yellow
mudjil
red

Placenames

Banarung
Rose Bay
Baramada
Parramatta
Daralbi
South Head
Daruwiya
Sydney Cove (west point)
Dubuwagali
Sydney Cove (east point)
Gamai
Botany Bay
Garangal
North Head
Gayimai
Manly Bay
Madala
Camp Cove
Warran
Sydney Cove

More Information

Some useful reference sources for Aboriginal language:-