Gija sounds and spelling

Gija Sounds and Spelling – Comparing both ways p, t, k, u

a aa e

i iyi u uwu

b, d, g, oo

a aa e

i iyi oo oowoo

explanation & example like the ‘u’ in cup not like ‘a’ in apple e.g. Nangala (a skin name)

like the ‘au’ in aunty or ‘a’ in artist e.g. taam / daam (country)

like the ‘e’ in butter or the not like the ‘e’ in egg or evil e.g. kemerre / gemerre (initiation scars)

like the ‘I’ in itch e.g. kirli / girli (walk)

like the ‘ea’ in eat e.g. nginiyin (he went)

like the ‘oo’ in put not like the ‘u’ in cut e.g. Nyawurru / Nyawoorroo (a skin name) like the ‘oo’ in pool e.g. puwurruku / boowoorroogoo (north)

Consonants that can be at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of words

p

t

j

k l m n

b

d

j

g l m n

like the ‘b’ in burn e.g. partupiny / bardoobiny (behind)

mostly like the ‘d’ is dark e.g. tayiwul / dayiwool (barramundi)

mostly like ‘j’ in jump e.g. junpa / joonba (dance cycle)

mostly like ‘g’ in get e.g. Kija / Gija

like the ‘l’ in lace e.g. lirrkarn / lirrgarn (teach)

like the ‘m’ in mouse e.g. minyjaarra (black plum)

like the ‘n’ in no e.g. Nampin / Nambin (a skin name)

like the ‘ng’ in sing not like the ‘ng’ in ginger or finger

ng

ng

note: very hard for SAE speakers to hear especially at the beginning of words e.g. ngawujil / ngawoojil (grandmother)

nh

nh

not like any sound in English put your tongue between your teeth and say ‘n’ note: very hard for SAE speakers to hear e.g. nharruku / nharroogoo (person with the same name as someone else like the ‘ni’ in onion not like the ‘ny’ in skinny.

ny

ny

very hard for SAE speakers to hear especially at the beginning and end of words. e.g. Nyaajarri (a skin name) and karnkiny / garnkiny (moon)

r th

r th

like the ‘r’ in red e.g. rurt / roord (sit) not exactly like any sound in English not like the ‘th’ in ‘thumb’ or ‘there’ Put your tongue between your teeth and say the ‘d’ in dark. e.g. thamparlam / thambarlam (feet/toes)

w y

w y

like the ‘w’ in wet e.g. wiyarrel (emu)

like the ‘y’ in yellow e.g. yarrurtja / yarroordja (we are all going)

Consonants that are only in the middle or end of words

ly

ngk

nk

rt

ly

ngg

nk

rd

like the ‘lli’ in million not like the ‘ly’ in happily e.g. talyalya / dalyalya (strike the ground e.g. lightning)

like the ‘ng’ in finger or in English e.g. Ngarrangkarni / Ngarranggarni (Dreaming)

like the ‘ng’ in ongoing e.g. pinkirrpal / binkirrbal (turkey)

not exactly like any sound in Australian English but a bit like the ‘rd’ when an American English speaker says pardon.

Roll the tip of your tongue backwards as you say the ‘d’ sound e.g. wartu / wardoo (brother in law)

rl

rl

not exactly like any sound in Australian English but a bit like the ‘rl’ when an American English speaker says ‘barley’.

Curl the tip of your tongue backwards as you say ‘l’ e.g. marlam (hand)

rn

rn

not like any sound in Australian English but a bit like the ‘rl’ when an American English speaker says barn.

Curl the tip of your tongue backwards as you say ‘n’

e.g. parnten / barnden (hot season)

rr

rr

not the same as any sound in Australian English but like the rolled ‘r’ in Scottish English or a bit like the ‘tt’ when we say butter quickly. e.g. minyjaarra (plum)