The Gundungurra Language By: R. H. (Robert Hamilton) Mathews (1841-1918)
The Gundungurra Language by R.H. (Robert Hamilton) Mathews is a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the indigenous language spoken by the Gundungurra people of southeastern Australia. Mathews, an esteemed anthropologist and linguist, presents a meticulous analysis of the language's grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. One of the remarkable aspects of this book is Mathews' dedication to preserving and documenting the Gundungurra language. As a language that had suffered rapid decline and was on the verge of extinction, Mathews recognized the urgency of capturing its intricacies before they were lost forever. His meticulous approach involved engaging with the last remaining fluent speakers and utilizing written sources to create a comprehensive record. The book begins with an overview of the Gundungurra people's cultural and historical context. Mathews delves into their customs, daily life, and the unique features of their society. This introduction provides a backdrop for understanding the role of language within their community and highlights the significance of language preservation. The heart of the book lies in Mathews' thorough exploration of the Gundungurra language itself. He covers various linguistic aspects, including phonology, morphology, and syntax, with great clarity and attention to detail. Mathews' explanations are accessible to both linguistic experts and general readers interested in indigenous languages. One particularly commendable aspect of Mathews' work is his incorporation of examples from Gundungurra texts. These include songs, stories, and conversations, which truly bring the language to life. The inclusion of these authentic resources not only enhances the reader's understanding but also provides valuable insights into the cultural heritage of the Gundungurra people. Despite its significant academic value, one potential shortcoming of the book is its limited accessibility to those with no prior knowledge of linguistics. While Mathews does make an effort to define certain terms and concepts, the depth of linguistic analysis may pose a challenge to readers unfamiliar with the subject. Overall, The Gundungurra Language is a remarkable contribution to linguistics and indigenous studies. Mathews' dedication to preserving the Gundungurra language shines through every page, making this book an essential resource for linguistic enthusiasts, anthropologists, and anyone interested in the cultural heritage of indigenous communities. First Page: THE GUNDUNGURRA LANGUAGE. BY R. H. MATHEWS, L.S. ( Read October 4, 1901. ) The Dhar′rook and Gun′dungur′ra tribes respectively occupied the from the mouth of the Hawkesbury river to Mount Victoria, and thence southerly to Berrima and Goulburn, New South Wales. On the south and southeast they were joined by the Thurrawal, whose language has the same structure, although differing in vocabulary. Besides the verbs and pronouns, many of the nouns, adjectives, prepositions and adverbs are subject to inflection for number and person. Similar inflections have, to some extent, been observed in certain islands of the Pacific Ocean, but have not hitherto been reported in Australia. I have also discovered two forms of the dual and plural of the first personal pronoun, a specialty which has likewise been found in Polynesian and North American dialects. Traces of a double dual were noticed by Mr. Threlkeld at Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, and traces of a double plural by Mr. Tuckfield in the Geelong tribe; but the prevalence of both forms of the dual and plural in different parts of speech in any Australian language has, up to the present, escaped observation. Orthography. Ninteen letters of the English alphabet are sounded, comprising fourteen consonants—b, d, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, r, t, w, y—and five vowels—a, e, i, o, u... Continue reading book >>

The Gundungurra Language By: R. H. (Robert Hamilton) Mathews (1841-1918)

The Gundungurra Language by R.H. (Robert Hamilton) Mathews is a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the indigenous language spoken by the Gundungurra people of southeastern Australia. Mathews, an esteemed anthropologist and linguist, presents a meticulous analysis of the language's grammar, vocabulary, and syntax.

One of the remarkable aspects of this book is Mathews' dedication to preserving and documenting the Gundungurra language. As a language that had suffered rapid decline and was on the verge of extinction, Mathews recognized the urgency of capturing its intricacies before they were lost forever. His meticulous approach involved engaging with the last remaining fluent speakers and utilizing written sources to create a comprehensive record.

The book begins with an overview of the Gundungurra people's cultural and historical context. Mathews delves into their customs, daily life, and the unique features of their society. This introduction provides a backdrop for understanding the role of language within their community and highlights the significance of language preservation.

The heart of the book lies in Mathews' thorough exploration of the Gundungurra language itself. He covers various linguistic aspects, including phonology, morphology, and syntax, with great clarity and attention to detail. Mathews' explanations are accessible to both linguistic experts and general readers interested in indigenous languages.

One particularly commendable aspect of Mathews' work is his incorporation of examples from Gundungurra texts. These include songs, stories, and conversations, which truly bring the language to life. The inclusion of these authentic resources not only enhances the reader's understanding but also provides valuable insights into the cultural heritage of the Gundungurra people.

Despite its significant academic value, one potential shortcoming of the book is its limited accessibility to those with no prior knowledge of linguistics. While Mathews does make an effort to define certain terms and concepts, the depth of linguistic analysis may pose a challenge to readers unfamiliar with the subject.

Overall, The Gundungurra Language is a remarkable contribution to linguistics and indigenous studies. Mathews' dedication to preserving the Gundungurra language shines through every page, making this book an essential resource for linguistic enthusiasts, anthropologists, and anyone interested in the cultural heritage of indigenous communities.

First Page:

THE GUNDUNGURRA LANGUAGE.

BY R. H. MATHEWS, L.S.

( Read October 4, 1901. )

The Dhar′rook and Gun′dungur′ra tribes respectively occupied the from the mouth of the Hawkesbury river to Mount Victoria, and thence southerly to Berrima and Goulburn, New South Wales. On the south and southeast they were joined by the Thurrawal, whose language has the same structure, although differing in vocabulary.

Besides the verbs and pronouns, many of the nouns, adjectives, prepositions and adverbs are subject to inflection for number and person. Similar inflections have, to some extent, been observed in certain islands of the Pacific Ocean, but have not hitherto been reported in Australia. I have also discovered two forms of the dual and plural of the first personal pronoun, a specialty which has likewise been found in Polynesian and North American dialects. Traces of a double dual were noticed by Mr. Threlkeld at Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, and traces of a double plural by Mr. Tuckfield in the Geelong tribe; but the prevalence of both forms of the dual and plural in different parts of speech in any Australian language has, up to the present, escaped observation.

Orthography.

Ninteen letters of the English alphabet are sounded, comprising fourteen consonants—b, d, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, r, t, w, y—and five vowels—a, e, i, o, u... Continue reading book >>

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