Yagara Dictionary and Salvage Grammar

Abstract

Part 1. Grammar 1.1. The Yagara language 1.1. Yagara dialectsYagara is a Pama-Nyungan language traditionally spoken in what is now South East Queensland. Yagara, which is sometimes spelled Yuggera, Jagera and other variations, is traditionally spoken from the Great Dividing Range in the west, to Stradbroke Island in the east, encompassing present-day Ipswich and Brisbane, and extending down into the Fassifern Valley in the south (Bell 1934, 13; see Figure 1.1). Yagara is the source of the Australian English words yakka 'work' (from yaga), dilly 'dilly bag' (from dili), humpy 'traditional temporary shelter' (from ngumbi); 1 and possibly jackaroo 'cattle/ sheep station worker' (from dagairu 'stranger'). PART 1. GRAMMAR Blackman, Frederick Archibald (1835-1906). Blackman was a pastoralist, inventor, naturalist and author who provided commentary via letters to the editor on the article 'Aboriginal Names of Places, Etc., with their Meanings' published in the 21 June 1900 edition of Science of Man. Blackman based his authority on time spent growing up and living among Aboriginal people in the Wide Bay -Port Curtis area between 1850 and 1879. Cadell, William Thomas (1845-1922). In the 1870s, Australian-born Cadell was a co-purchaser of 'Deepwater Station' in the highlands now known as Glen Innes, established on the lands of the Ngarabal people in 1839. Cadell was a successful sheep and cattle breeder and champion of agricultural shows. He travelled widely to provide expert advice to pastoralists in the New England and Darling Downs areas, keeping extensive records, including lists of Aboriginal words.Watson, Frederic James (1868-1947). Watson arrived in Australia as a child in 1876. His obituary noted that he had worked as an 'officer of the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Stock' for 25 years (Courier-Mail 1947, 6), and that on retirement, he took an interest in the traditions and languages of the south-eastern Aboriginal tribes (Gabi-Gabi, Waga-Waga, Yugambeh and Yagara). He became a fellow and an associate member of the Queensland Place Names Committee. All of his Yagara data are apparently derived from other sources, but he sometimes adds observations that seem based on firsthand experience. Howitt, Alfred William (1830-1908). An educated English migrant, explorer and natural scientist, Howitt came to Melbourne in 1852 to try his luck on the goldfields. After spending some time farming his uncle's property he took to the bush as a drover. He was also recruited to examine the pastoral potential of the Lake Eyre district, and to lead an expedition in search of missing explorers Burke, Wills and King. Following this, in 1863, he began a career as a public servant, travelling long distances on horseback in the state of Victoria as a magistrate, and publishing the results of his geological investigations. Influenced by the writings of Charles Darwin, Howitt developed an interest in Aboriginal society, and published substantial papers and books on the topic between 1880 and 1904. Lenet, George William (1868-1960)....