Yugambeh–Bundjalung languages
Yugambeh–Bundjalung, also known as Bandjalangic, is a branch of the Pama–Nyungan language family, that is spoken in north-eastern New South Wales and South-East Queensland.
| Yugambeh–Bandjalangic | |
|---|---|
| Ethnicity | Bundjalung people (Minyungbal, Widjabal), Western Bundjalung people, Githabul, Yugambeh people |
| Geographic distribution | Queensland and New South Wales, Australia |
Native speakers | 670 (2021 census) |
| Linguistic classification | Pama–Nyungan
|
| Subdivisions | |
| ISO 639-3 | bdy |
| Glottolog | band1339 |
| ELP | Bandjalang |
Bandjalangic languages (green) among other Pama–Nyungan (tan) | |
Bundjalung is classified as Severely Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger | |
Yugambeh–Bundjalung was historically a dialect continuum consisting of a number of varieties, including Yugambeh, Nganduwal, Minjangbal, Njangbal (Nyangbal), Biriin, Baryulgil, Waalubal, Dinggabal, Wiyabal, Gidabal, Galibal, and Wudjeebal. Language varieties in the group vary in degree of mutual intelligibility, with varieties at different ends of the continuum being mostly unintelligible. These dialects formed four clusters:
- Tweed-Albert Language (Yugambeh)
- Condamine-Upper Clarence (Githabul)
- Lower Richmond (Eastern Bundjalung – Nyangbal, Minyangbal and Bandjalang proper)
- Middle Clarence (Western Bundjalung)
Bowern (2011) lists Yugambeh, Githabul, Minyangbal, and Bandjalang as separate Bandjalangic languages. All Yugambeh–Bundjalung languages are nearly extinct. Bandjalang proper has the greatest number of speakers: 113, while the other dialects have a total of 26 speakers.
Gowar (Guwar) and Pimpama may be related to the Bandjalangic languages rather than to Durubalic.