Gurindji Examples of sounds and their spellings

Here are some words for relatives in the Gurindji language. We give our standardised spelling and the community spelling, to show how these may differ. Also the meaning of the word and its abbreviation. You can hear what the whole list sounds like if you clicking on the sound file.

Community spelling	Standard spelling	Meaning	Symbol
jaju	tyatyu	mother’s mother	MM
jawiji	tyawityi	mother’s father	MF
kaku	kaku	father's father	FF
kaminyjarr	kaminytyarr	female’s daughter’s son or daughter	fDS, fDD
kawurlu	kawurlu	sister	Z
kurriji	kurrityi	husband’s mother, female’s son’s wife	HM, fSW
kurturtu	kurturtu	female’s child, sister’s child	fS, fD, ZS, ZD
lamparra	lamparra	wife’s father, husband’s father	WF, HF
mali	mali	wife’s mother, female’s daughter’s husband	WF, fDH
mukurla	mukurla	father’s sister	FZ
ngajala	ngatyala	husband’s sister, female’s brother’s wife	HZ, fBW
ngaji	ngatyi	father	F
ngalawuny	ngalawuny	man’s son or daughter	mS, mD
ngamayi	ngamayi	mother	M
ngamirni	ngamirni	mother’s brother	MB
ngapa	ngapa	elder brother	eB
ngapuju	ngaputyu	father’s mother	FM
ngumparna	ngumparna	husband	H
ngunyarri	ngunyarri	mother’s mother’s mother (great-grand-mother)	MMM
parnku	parnku	mother’s brother’s son or daughter, father’s sister’s son or daughter (cross-cousin)	MBS,MBD,FZS,FZD

Gupapuyngu Examples of sounds and their spellings

Gupapuyngu (Yolngu) has a few more kinds of sounds than many other languages, including Gurindji. These are illustrated in the kin terms given below. Thanks to Waymamba Gaykamamu, the speaker, and to Charles Darwin University.

Community spelling	Standard spelling	Meaning	Symbol
bäpa	baapa	father	F
momu	muumu	father’s mother	FM
märi’mu	maari’mu	father’s father	FF
marratja	marratya	man’s son’s son or daughter	mSS, mSD
ŋathi	ngathi	mother’s father	MF
dhuway	dhuway	husband	H
ŋäṉḏi	ngaarnrdi	mother	M

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