Last changed 11 April 2024

Note: This page is just a pointer to some of the main resources on Wiradjuri language

See also Wiradjuri entries in The World Wide Web Virtual Library : Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages, edited by David Nathan.

Wiradjuri language

ISO 639-3 · wrh | Glottocode · wiral1262 | AIATSIS · D10

Modern published vocabulary and grammar

A new Wiradjuri dictionary, compiled by Stan Grant (Snr) and Dr John Rudder. 2010. O'Connor, ACT: Restoration House. * http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/37421487 * Note: publisher is out of business

A first Wiradjuri dictionary, compiled by Stan Grant (Senr) and Dr John Rudder. 2005. O'Connor, ACT: Restoration House. * http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/31591360 * Note: publisher is out of business

Macquarie Aboriginal Words cover'Wiradjuri', by Sally McNicol and Dianne Hosking. Chapter 5 in  Macquarie Aboriginal Words: a dictionary of words of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, ed. by N Thieberger & W Macgregor, 1994. The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd * http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/23178838
= ASEDA item 0536




Wiradjuri dictionary early sources

The sources for the main dictionary by Stan Grant (Snr) and John Rudder, are listed at 2005:11-12 and 2010:18-19.
Among these, the publically available sources, from the 19th and early 20th century except for E, are:

E
Ellis, Jean. Australia's Aboriginal heritage 1994
EC Curr, EM The Australian Race 1887
G Günther, James 1892. Also microfilm of original manuscript (1838) in Mitchell Library
GB Bennett, G. Wanderings in NSW 1834
H Hale, Horatio. Ethnography [sc. Ethnology] and Philology U.S. Exploring Expedition 1838–1842
JB or B Bayliss, James The Waradgery Language 1927
JM Maguire, J Science of Man 5/1907
L Larmer, James Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Society of NSW 1898
M Mitchell, JFH Aboriginal Dictionary Woradgery Tongue of Birds, beasts, fishes &c., weapons and timber 1904
R Richards, C in a series of issues of Science of Man, 1902
RM or Ma Mathews, RH. The Wiradjuri and other Languages of NSW JRIA [sc. JRAI] 34:284-305 1904
SM Unidentfied Source. Science of Man 5/1903, 7/1904
T Tibbets [sc. Tibbetts], WC Science of Man 5/1900
Th Thomas, WN Science of Man 11/1900
TM Mitchell, TL Three expeditions into the interior of eastern Australia 1839
WR Ridley, W

Further details of the above sources, including WWW availability:
E Ellis, Jean. Australia's Aboriginal heritage 1994 (North Blackburn, Vic.: Collins Dove) Can be searched or borrowed from https://archive.org/details/australiasaborig0000elli
EC Book the Sixteenth No. 190. Wiiratheri or Wiraduri vocabularies, in The Australian Race 1887 volume 3
https://archive.org/details/cu31924026093835/ https://archive.org/details/australianracei02currgoog
[18 locations: see map https://maps.app.goo.gl/py1oHzuRCKJY1EMd7
[collector, place, page numbers:]

EM Curr Uabba / Yooaba 366

Rev J Gunther Castlereagh River, Talbragar, Mudgee 364, 368-369

C Rouse Warren 370-371

Bench of Magistrates at Dubbo 365, 372-373

H Keightly Wellington 374-375

Hill End, by Bench of Magistrates, Bathurst 376-377

F Foley Bathurst 378-379

Revd J Balfe [Buddabadah Station] Bogan River 365, 380-381

Sources of Bogan River, by Bench of Magistrates, Obley 382-383

Carcoar, by Bench of Magistrates, Bathurst 384-385

J Cameron Forbes and the Levels 365, 386-387

WH Suttor Candoblin 366, 388-389

JE Pearce Waljeers [Booligal] 390-391

Henry Bayliss Wagga Wagga 392-393

Lachlan McLean Yanko, Urana, Billebong, and Jerrilderie 394-395

GA Gordon Deniliquin 396-397

Charles Byrne Howlong 365, 367, 398-399

GEH Stuckey Albury 367, 400-401
G* Rev. James William (Jakob Wilhelm) Günther (father of William James Gunther) Archdeacon Günther's 'Grammar and vocabulary of the Aboriginal dialect called the Wirradhuri', Appendix D. Sydney: Charles Potter, Govt. Printer, 1892. * at the The Virtual Coquun - Hunter River Project https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/56209 5MB PDF * https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:An_Australian_language_as_spoken_by_the_Awabakal.djvu/376
GB George Bennett (1804-1893) Wanderings in New South Wales … being the Journal of a Naturalist (2 vols, London 1834) Vol. I https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Wanderings_in_New_South_Wales_Batavia_Pe/KDhCAAAAcAAJ
https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015068278962
H Horatio Hale  (1817–96) [with Rev. William Watson 1839]. Wiradurei, in 'Ethnology and Philology', pp. 479-531 in Narrative of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, Volume 1 by Charles Wilkes. Philadelphia: C. Sherman, 1846 * http://www.newcastle.edu.au/Resources/Divisions/Academic/Library/Cultural%20Collections/pdf/hale1846b.pdf
2.4MB in the Virtual Sourcebook for Aboriginal Studies in the Hunter Region Guide * another scan of the same pages is at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/Resources/Divisions/Academic/Library/Cultural%20Collections/pdf/hale1846.pdf * another version is in the Smithsonian Institution Libraries Digital Collection https://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/usexex/navigation/ScientificText/usexex19_07b.cfm?start=502
JB
James John Baylis, Wagga Wagga. microfilm: Mitchell Library ML Z Ab159/1, AIATSIS MF 249 * son of Henry Bayliss
• also 1914 'Aboriginal names and their meanings'  MLMSS 1256 (CY 4346)
https://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au/collection-items/aboriginal-names-and-their-meanings-james-j-baylis-1914-5
JM J Maguire (McGuire?), of Junee DIALECT OF THE WERAIARI TRIBE. Science of Man 9.5(May 1907), 80 https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-522269904 ; 9.6(June 1907), 95 https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-522269948
L James Larmer. 1898. Yeo Yeo and Narranderra, Upper Calara or Lachlan, page 227 in Native vocabulary of miscellaneous New South Wales objects. JPRSNSW 32, 223-229 https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41822965#page/257 * also https://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au/collection-items/larmers-vocabulary-native-names-1853-james-larmer-1832-1853-3
M JFH Mitchell (1831–1923). 1904. Aboriginal dictionary (Woradgery tongue) … [Murray River] https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2722938  * 1906 version: SLNSW Z C97. Microfilm at CY 1650, frames 1-33 [9CY reel 681]. https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/YRlZKren * see also 'Notes relating to Aboriginal dictionary (Woradgery tongue), 1906', 1973, at https://find.slv.vic.gov.au/permalink/61SLV_INST/s6pvau/alma9922070923607636 * apparently the basis for
JF Forgeur. 1900. Dictionary of Aboriginal words from the Wordagery otherwise known as the Wiradjuri tribe, upper Murray R., NSW. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/247543358
R C[harles] Richards. 1902–03. Wirra’athooree. Wirrai’yarrai’. Wirrach’aree’. Wirra’jerree’ (or, Aboriginal dialects). Science of Man 5. 5:81–83 (G) https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-525754407; 6:98–102 (G,B); 7:114–119 (B,G,W); 8:133–138 (M,N,Ny); 9:146–149 (Ng); 10:165–168 (Ng,J,Dth); 11:180–183 (Dth,Y); 12:198–201 (Y,Gw,I,E)
RM RH Mathews (1841–1918). 1904. The Wiradyuri and other languages of New South Wales. JAI 34,284-305  http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-756469845  http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18978
SM RH Mackenzie, Dubbo 'Aboriginal Place Names' Science of Man 7.3(26 April 1904),43-44
https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-522047249
TL Richardson Science of Man 7.5 (27 June 1904),76-77 https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-522047282
T
WC Tibbetts, of Ulamogo Plains. Wooratherie Dialect, Macquarie and Castlereagh Rivers, NSW Science of Man 3.4(May 1900), 62-64. https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-525760314
Th WN Thomas, Dubbo [from Reginald C Gipps] LINGUISTICS—Wiraiari Tribe. Science of Man 3.10 (21 November 1900), 166-7 https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-525760624; 3.12 (21 January 1901),208-210 https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-525760681 ; 4.2(21 March 1901),26-27 https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-520992397 ; 4.3(21 April 1901),44-45 https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-520992416
TM TL Mitchell 1839 'Lachlan, Regent's Lake' [Lake Cargellico], in Appendix http://adc.library.usyd.edu.au/data-2/mitthre.pdf (vocabularies are not included in facsimile https://www.google.com.au/books/edition/Three_Expeditions_Into_the_Interior_of_E/cd5BAAAAIAAJ)
WR
'Wiradhuri' from James Günther, Mudgee, in comparative table pages 122-128 in Kamilaroi, and other Australian Languages by Rev. William Ridley, 2nd ed. (Sydney, 1875) MLMSS 7104/Box 1/Item 2
https://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au/collection-items/kamilaroi-and-other-australian-languages-rev-william-ridley-2nd-ed-sydney-1875-100

* earlier Günther documents
1837–40
CY Reel 980, frames 586-615 http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=947986
Supplement to a Vocabulary of the Native Dialect called Wirradhurrei. 1840. [title page is numbered 281]
ML B 505
'Lecture on the Aborigines of Australia and papers on Wirradhurrei dialect, 1837-1840'
James Günther. Australian Aborigines. Wirradurri dialect, 1837-1840
pp. 137-217 A collection of Words and Phrases of the Wirradhurrei Dialect Commenced 1837
pp. 225-269 A Collection of the most essential words in the Wirradurri Dialect, 1840
pp. 271-279 A Collection of the most essential words in Wirradurri copied from the vocabulary, 1840
pp. 281-321 Supplement to a Vocabulary of the Native Dialect called Wirradhurrei, 1840
Mitchell Library, Sydney https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/n7oVN6ln
(old catalogue http://acmssearch.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/itemDetailPaged.cgi?itemID=1003194(

1839–40
RAI MS 6
Vocabulary of the Aboriginal dialect called Wirradhurri [sic] spoken in the Wellington District, etc., etc. of New Holland collected by James Günther, 1839
[and] A few prefactory remarks to the following grammar, James Günther, St John’s Parsonage, Mudgee, 24th August 1871.
[and] An attempt of a grammar of the Wirradhurri [sic] dialect compiled & revised by J.G., 1840.
[iv], [336] pp. 19 x 12 cm
http://www.therai.org.uk/archives-and-manuscripts/manuscript-contents/0006-guenther-james-ms-6/
The 1839–40 manuscript was microfilmed in 2000 by Academic Microforms, Caithness, Scotland. The microfilm is held at AIATSIS Library Local call number MF 266 (1 reel ; 35 mm., pos.)

1838
Vocabulary of the Native Dialect Wirradurri spoken in the Wellington District &c &c &c
by Rev Jas. James Günther
ML C136, Mitchell Library, Sydney
digitised : colour scans https://indigenous.sl.nsw.gov.au/collection-items/native-dialect-wirradurri-spoken-wellington-district-1838-james-g%C3%BCnther-104
http://www.acmssearch.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/itemDetailPaged.cgi?itemID=1046036
monochrome microfilm : CY reel 936, frames 350–515 (C 136) http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=947986

additional sources (chronological order)

Map of the Colony of New South Wales (1834) by Sir Thomas Mitchell https://hunterlivinghistories.com/2015/09/09/mitchell1834/

Horatio Hale (1817–96). 1839. 'Vocabulary of the Mudgee or Yarru-Yarru dialect taken down by Mr. Watson 6 p.'. in his 'Notes on the Natives of Australia and their Dialects'. University of Western Ontario Archives. Copy in microfilm MF 355 at AIATSIS. http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/32441635

GA Robinson. 1844. State Library of New South Wales. Volume 65 / A7086
a) part 3  pp1-12 Wayradjere language / Vocabulary of the Murrumbidgee language, as also census of the tribes taken at Gun.dag.gy.i., September 21st ’44
b) part 6 pp93-96 'Appendix: Specimen of the several dialects spoken by the Aborigines'
in The papers of George Augustus Robinson [electronic resource] http://hdl.handle.net/1885/216421
https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/216350
Published:
Ian D Clark 2002  Aboriginal vocabularies : South East Australia, 1839-1852 Volume two The papers of George Augustus Robinson, Chief Protector, Port Phillip Aboriginal Protectorate https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/230223924 in https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/32751832 * 2nd edition 2014 https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B00KGEYJYS/ (Createspace Independent Publishing Platform)
a) 2002 pages 177–182 = 2014 pages 185–192
b) 2002 pages 326-328 = 2014 pages 426-427

Henry J Withers. 1878. List of native words and names, pp.2189 in volume 2, The Aborigines of Victoria, ed. by R Brough Smyth * of Berrembeel, near Wagga Wagga
https://ia802603.us.archive.org/21/items/aboriginesvicto00smytgoog/aboriginesvicto00smytgoog_desc.html

RH Mathews papers. National Library Manuscripts MS 8006 box 3
Item 4, notebook 1, pages 78-89 'Wirajuri Language'
Item 7, Criterion Hotel notebook, 'Languages, initiation ceremonies, organisation, etc'
and various other notes; see papers lists https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-416711257/findingaid#nla-obj-416712135

[Maiden, Joseph Henry]. 1896. By J.M., Dialect of Wooradgery tribe. Australasian Anthropological Journal 1.1, 12.  https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-568360020

DDB, Dubbo; JJB, Narranderra. Australasian Anthropological Journal  1.2,15 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-568383489

[George Claudius Nash 1833–1926]. 1912. Waradgeri — dialect by G.C.N. of Warangesda. Science of Man 13.10,211
https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-520740860; 13.11,231 https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-520747285; 13.12,251 https://nla.gov.au:443/tarkine/nla.obj-520747603

NB Tindale’s 1938–39 manuscript Wiradjuri vocabulary 106 in Parallel Vocabularies AA 338/8/20. Index cards AA 338/7/2/31. https://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/collection/archives/provenances/series/items/aa-338-7-2-31 SA Museum archives

There are numerous 19th and early century vocabulary records listed in the AIATSIS Library's Selected Bibliography from 2006.

using old sources

Paper and Talk
          cover Paper and Talk coverPaper and Talk, A manual for reconstituting materials in Australian indigenous languages from historical sources, ed, N Thieberger, 1995, reprinted 2005. Canberra: Aboriginal Studies Press.

This volume contains excellent general advice on how to use old written sources; and as it happens p.42 reproduces an extract from one of Günther's manuscripts (part of frame 402 of the 1838 Vocabulary)




some other relevant resources

Nash, David. 2014. Comitative placenames in central NSW,  Chapter 2, pages 11-37 in Indigenous and Minority Place Names – Australian and International Perspectives edited by Ian Clark, Luise Hercus, and Laura Kostanski. Canberra: ANU Press & Aboriginal History Inc. (Aboriginal History Monograph) ISBN 9781925021622 (Print version), ISBN 9781925021639 (Online) * http://press.anu.edu.au?p=286811 whole volume, chapter  http://press.anu.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/ch021.pdf * from 1974 essay
correction: page 27 Note G: fighting with the meaning ‘fighting’ > fitting with the meaning ‘fighting’

additions: Parish of Julandery -32 54 24, 146 44 11
Parish of Merrimarotherie -33 16, 147 01 
Parish of Morotherie    -29  40  04, 143  33  49
Bungolanjery Point, previously Bungotanjery Point (Carrathool LGA)   -34 35, 145 52
Berigerie Parish (Teridgerie map sheet) -30 52  148 56 cf. Berry Jerry
add under Bundidjarie Hill: "Bundidgeree sheep station, near Narrandera," http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/browne-thomas-alexander-3085 Parish of Bundidgerry  -34 44, 146 38; Bundidgerry Creek (anabranch) previous name:  Bundidgerie -34 47, 146 45 cf. Bundi Creek, Bundi Hole
possibly Ginninderry ~ Ginninginninderry ~ Gingininderra ~ Ghinninghinninderra -35 13 149 03 https://ginninderry.com/environment-and-people/cultural-heritage/
Canowindra -33 34, 148 40 listed as meaning 'a home' or 'camping place'; and note J Steele's proposal gana-win-dara ‘burn-fire-having’ (Placenames Australia March 2019 p.13)
Durridgere -32 10 24.3, 149 55 04.2 (cf. Teridgerie)
Errenbenderry ~ Eribendery -33 11, 146 23 near Euabalong: yirribin ‘Welcome Swallow’ [Nola Turner-Jensen 5/4/2020 https://www.facebook.com/groups/ParkesWiradjuri/permalink/3532866316772816/ ]
Galwadgery, west of Burrandong (Mitchell 1834)
Gelleldary, in the Murrumbidgee district (1859 newspapers)
Golgothrie  -33 33, 145 02
Goobaguthrie  -32 52, 146 21
Goobarragandra River, south of Tumut; compare Gobarralong ~ Goobarralong probably based on gubarr ‘red ochre, red paint, red stone’
Merotherie ~ Meruthera  -32 07, 149 35
Merotherie Creek ~ Meruthera Creek -32 13, 149 33
Merotherie Crossing -32 06 30, 149 34 30
Merrimarotherie Parish -33 16, 147 01
Milleewadderee Creek, Milleewaddaree people at Nubrygyn (Gadsby 2020,2021)
Mulguthrie, in the Forbes district  -33 11, 147 22
Nandandera, near Goolagong (Forbes Advocate 23 April 1915 http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?q=Nandandera)
Narrawidgery trig -34 35 11, 144 49 36
Tarrabandera variant of Tarrabandra (near Gundagai)
Weridgera Run: 1880s? variant of Weridgery (on Coradgery Pastoral Plan)
Yarragundry near Murrumbidgee

Nash, David. 2007. Worksheet on the -djuri ending in placenames.

Austin, Peter. 1997. Proto central New South Wales phonology, pp.21-49 in Boundary rider: essays in honour of Geoffrey O'Grady, ed. by Darrell Tryon and Michael Walsh. Pacific Linguistics C-136. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics, The Australian National University http://dx.doi.org/10.15144/PL-C136

Carey, Hilary M. and David A. Roberts (eds). 2002. The Wellington Valley Project. Papers Relating to the Church Missionary Society Mission to Wellington Valley, New South Wales 1830–42. A Critical Electronic Edition. University of Newcastle.

Macdonald, Gaynor. 2004. Two steps forward three steps back: A Wiradjuri land rights journey. Canada. Bay, NSW: LhR Press. http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/35149518

Miller, Patti. 2012. The mind of a thief. University of Queensland Press. http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/162009924 • set around Wellington; includes long quotations from diaries of Watson and Günther

Gadsby, Kate. 2021. Convicts, capitalists and corruption. Nubrygyn and the Colony’s settlement west of the Great Divide. Canberra: Kate Gadsby. xiv+498pp. https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/246308354?keyword=Convicts,%20Capitalists%20and%20Corruption

Wiradjuri Heritage Study, compiled by Go Green Services. 2002. [report to Wagga Wagga City Council] https://issuu.com/riversidewaggawagga/docs/wiradjuri_heritage_studyp  * includes comparative table of selected meanings with words from Grant & Rudder 2002, R, JB, H Baylis in EC, H Withers — Table 23, pp.178–9

See also 'Selected Bibliography of materials on the Wiradjuri Language and People held in the AIATSIS Library' (June 2006),

placename study

Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW http://www.gnb.nsw.gov.au/name/search
Parish & Historic Maps http://www.lands.nsw.gov.au/survey_mapping/parish_maps
Parish (and Pastoral) Map Preservation Project http://parishmaps.lands.nsw.gov.au/pmap.html
NSW Railway Station Names and Origins http://www.nswrail.net/library/station_names.php

NSW government agencies

Aboriginal Languages K–10 Syllabus (2003)
https://ab-ed.nesa.nsw.edu.au/go/aboriginal-languages archived
[NSW Office of the Board of Studies (BOS) page for Indigenous languages]
[NSW Department of Education and Training (DET) pages on Aboriginal Languages]
[https://www.tafensw.edu.au/secondary/languages/aboriginal/]
[NSW Aboriginal Languages Research and Resource Centre – revised site was expected April 2007]

Note: Parkes Wiradjuri Language Group Wiradjuri Language Website is no longer.

© 2022
Australian languages
David Nash's home page

Created: 4 March 2007
Modified:
21 July 2016, 28 July 2018, 6 October 2020, 6-15 & 29 November 2022, 17 December 2022, 10 January 2023, 27 February 2024, 1, 11 April 2024
URL http://www0.anu.edu.au/linguistics/nash/aust/wira/index.html