Data collected by AUSTLANG

Data on the language

Alternatives names: Djirbalngan, Djirubal, Djirbal, Jirrabul

For additional names and alternative spellings, see the AUSTLANG website.

Main dialects:

According to Dixon (1972 & 2002), Dyirbal includes the following dialects: Ngadjan, Waribarra Mamu, Dulgubarra Mamu, Jirrbal, Gulngay, Djirru, Girramay, and Walmalbarra.

In addition, Walsh (1981) distinguishes Dyirribarra Mamu from Gambilbarra Dyirrbal.

Classification: Pama-Nyungan family, Dyirbalic group

Area: Dyirbal is an aboriginal language, spoken in Queensland: Clump Point and its surrounding area, North to Murdering Point, South to the mouth of the Tully River (Tindale, 1974).

Number of speakers :

In 2005, the National Indigenous Language Survey estimated 5 speakers. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census, Dyirbal is now extinct.

Sources & bibliography

Dixon, R. M. W. 1972. The Dyirbal language of North Queensland. London: Cambridge University Press.

Dixon, R. M. W. 1975. Dyirbal dictionary with illustrative sentences (roughly transcribed), ms.

Maps

Dixon, R M W. 1972. The Dyirbal language of North Queensland. London: Cambridge University Press.

Dixon, R M W. 1982. “Problems in Dyirbal dialectology”. In Language form and linguistic variation: papers dedicated to Angus McIntosh, ed. J Anderson, 43-73. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

Dixon, R M W. 1991. “Margany and Gunya”. In Handbook of Australian languages Vol. 4, eds. Dixon RMW and B Blake, 348-402. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Dixon, R M W and Koch, Grace. 1996. Dyirbal song poetry: the oral literature of an Australian rainforest people. St. Lucia, QLD: University of Queensland Press.

Tindale, Norman. 1974. Tribal Boundaries in Aboriginal Australia. Canberra: Division of National Mapping, Department of National Development.

Links

AUSTLANG website: http://austlang.aiatsis.gov.au/main.php

Ethnologue webpage: http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=dbl