Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 1, 2026

Warrgamay language

Warrgamay is an extinct Australian Aboriginal language of northeast Queensland. It was closely related to Dyirbal.

Last revised
Aug 1, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
271 w
Citations
4
Source
Warrgamay
Biyay
Native toAustralia
RegionNortheast Queensland
EthnicityWarakamai, Biyaygiri
Native speakers
(3 cited 1981)
Dialects
  • Warrgamay
  • Biyay (Biyaygiri) 11
  • Biyay 22
Language codes
ISO 639-3wgy
Glottologwarr1255
AIATSIS2Y134
ELPWarrgamay

Warrgamay is an extinct Australian Aboriginal language of northeast Queensland. It was closely related to Dyirbal.

It is also known as Waragamai, Wargamay, Wargamaygan, Biyay, and Warakamai. The language region includes the Herbert River area, Ingham, Hawkins Creek, Long Pocket, Herbert Vale, Niagara Vale, Yamanic Creek, Herbert Gorge, Cardwell, Hinchinbrook Island and the adjacent mainland.3

Phonology

Consonants

Peripheral Laminal Apical
Labial Velar Palatal Alveolar Retroflex
Plosive b ɡ ɟ d
Nasal m ŋ ɲ n
Rhotic r
Lateral l
Approximant w j ɻ
  • Rhotic sounds /r/, /ɻ/ can also be heard as taps [ɾ], [ɽ].

Vowels

Front Central Back
Close i iː u uː
Open a aː
References

References

  1. Dixon, R. M. W. (2002). Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development. Cambridge University Press. p. xxxiii.
  2. Y134 Warrgamay at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  3. CC-BY license icon This Wikipedia article incorporates CC BY 4.0 licensed text from: "Warrgamay". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
Sources

Sources

External links