On the map you can see the area covered by these languages. In terms of numbers, if not of area, this is possibly the second largest language group in NSW, with Wiradjuri being the largest. Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay are closely related, with over 60% of the words being shared, and even more of the grammar is shared. Invasion of the eastern part (Gamilaraay) of the area took place from the 1830’s, and for some dialects almost no information has been recorded. In other cases word lists, some sentences and an amount of cultural information were recorded. According to Austin the last people who spoke Gamilaraay right through died in the 1940’s. Today, as far as we can work out, there are a number of people who use language regularly and have kept many words alive, but with a minimum of grammar.

Fluency lasted longer in the western area, and in the 1950’s Ian Sim recorded much information at Goodooga. This information has recently been published. In the 1970’s a large number of recordings of Arthur Dodd and Fred Reece were made, and briefer recordings of Jack Sands. These give considerable information about the language. (but both speakers often say "its too long since I spoke it, and I can’t remember how to say that.") Much of that information was used by Corrine Williams to produce her "Grammar of Yuwaalaraay" and the wordlist included in it.

Many reports have spoken of the importance of language maintenance and revival, and many Aboriginal people have expressed strong desires to maintain and learn their own languages. The aim of the Yuwaalaraay - Gamilaraay projects in the Walgett area is to provide the resources so that these desires of local Aboriginal people can be met. In particular the projects aim at working in the education area through schools, pre-schools.

Peter Austin, originally from Tamworth and now Professor of Linguistics at Melbourne University, produced a number of Gamilaraay dictionaries in the early 1990’s. He has also been doing work on Gamilaraay grammar. This latter has not been completed or published. The Dictionaries, now out of print, were one factor in a renewed interest in Gamilaraay. He also worked with David Nathan of AIATSIS to produce a Web version of the Dictionary.

and there has been some continued development of that. The dictionaries contain about 600 words.

In 1996 two language programs began. Gamilaraay at Toomelah-Boggabilla and Yuwaalaraay at St Joseph’s Walgett. The Toomelah-Boggabilla project is based at the schools, and includes both school and community components. The project is run by community members and a teacher. At Walgett there are two full time Aboriginal Language Workers and an elder working part time, and a part time linguist.

The Toomelah-Boggabilla project used Austin’s dictionaries, but any grammatical work is largely based on Williams, since that is the only grammar available. Also Williams’ wordlist contains around 1500 words, compared to 600 in Austin. There are many occasions when Austin does not have a particular word, so the community decided that the Williams word could be used.

These two programs continue, the Walgett one funded by ATSIC and the Catholic Schools Office, the Toomelah-Boggabilla one funded by the Education Dept and ATSIC. In 1997 a program similar to the Walgett one began at Goodooga. It is funded by ATSIC and is based at Goodooga Central School.

In late 1997 the Walgett community approached the Education Department and Board of Studies with a submission that Yuwaalaraay - Gamilaraay be taught as a LOTE (Language other than English) at Walgett High. The Education Department agreed, and provided funding for the development of resources and training of Aboriginal Language Workers. During 1998 a year 7-8 Yuwaalaraay - Gamilaraay course received Board of Studies approval and it was taught at Walgett High and at Goodooga Central School in 1999, and is being taught again in 2001. A text book for the course, and a wordlist were published early in 1999. There was also a one day per week Yuwaalaraay - Gamilaraay course at Walgett TAFE.

The Toomelah-Boggabilla program ran a conference in late 1997 which attracted community and education people from across the area, and showed the enthusiasm that exists for language information and education. Further conferences were held in 1999 at Walgett and Coonabarabran, and at Goodooga and Boggabilla in 2000.

There are a number of projects now. One is to develop a Gamilaraay - Yuwaalaraay Dictionary, and that project is nearing completion. There is another project to develop some introductory books and sound material to go with them. The development of sound material is associated with both the Dictionary Project and books.

Some of that sound material is being used on this web site.