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Warlpiri Encyclopaedic Dictionary

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By Mary Laughren with Kenneth Hale, Jeannie, Egan Nungarrayi, Marlurrku Paddy Patrick Jangala, Robert Hoogenraad, David Nash, Jane Simpson

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Warlpiri is a language of the Tanami Desert area of the Northern Territory of Australia. Hundreds of Warlpiri speakers from the main Warlpiri communities of Yuendumu, Willowra, Lajamanu, Nyirrpi an...

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Warlpiri is a language of the Tanami Desert area of the Northern Territory of Australia. Hundreds of Warlpiri speakers from the main Warlpiri communities of Yuendumu, Willowra, Lajamanu, Nyirrpi and Alekarenge have contributed to the Warlpiri Dictionary, which has been more than 60 years in the making. 

It contains Warlpiri words with English translations; instructive example sentences rich with Warlpiri history and cultural practices; detailed flora and fauna information; more than 500 illustrations, plus colour photographs; and maps of Warlpiri country. With an English word finder, and a guide to Warlpiri grammar and to the complex vocabulary for family relations this dictionary is essential for both beginner and advanced speakers of Warlpiri, translators and interpreters, and for anyone interested in learning more about Warlpiri language and culture.

Production Details
  • Hardback
  • 1416 pp + 4pp cover (includes 16 pp full colour)
  • Released 1 December 2022
  • ISBN 9781925302424
About The Authors

Mary Laughren began learning and documenting Warlpiri in 1975 when she was posted to Yuendumu as a linguist. She started compiling a dictionary of Warlpiri in 1978, working closely with Ken Hale, and with Warlpiri and non-Warlpiri co-compilers in Lajamanu, Wirliyajarrayi, Yuendumu and Nyirrpi over the following decades. Laughren holds an honorary senior research fellowship at The University of Queensland.

Kenneth Hale (1934–2001) was an American linguist, language rights activist, and a specialist on indigenous languages. He was an extraordinary polyglot who first came to Australia in 1959 and over two years documented about 70 Australian Indigenous languages. He returned in the late 1960s and began work documenting Warlpiri in more detail, work which was the beginning of this dictionary.

Jeannie Nungarrayi Egan (1947–2009) was a teacher, curriculum developer, researcher and an award-winning painter dedicated to educating the young people of Yuendumu. She taught generations of Europeans about Warlpiri language, culture and country. Nungarrayi produced audio recordings, books, posters and other teaching aids which have fed into the Warlpiri Dictionary. She wrote hundreds of definitions and brilliant example sentences for the dictionary.

Marlurrku Paddy Patrick Jangala (c. 1944–1994) was born and raised in the bush in the Tanami Desert area until 1953 when his family was moved to the new settlement of Hooker Creek (Lajamanu). He worked on cattle stations and from 1967 worked tirelessly in bilingual education. He helped design modern Warlpiri spelling and wrote hundreds of the succinct word and expression definitions and examples included in the dictionary.

Robert Hoogenraad (1940–2021) started his working life as an exploration geophysicist in remote Australia. He went on to study linguistics and moved to central Australia to work as a linguist. He had a key role in the production of the Warlpiri Picture Dictionary (IAD Press). He served on the board of the Warlpiri Education and Training Trust until 2008.

David Nash is from Parkes in central New South Wales. After degrees in mathematics then linguistics at The Australian National University, in 1980 he was awarded a PhD in linguistics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a thesis on Warlpiri language supervised by Ken Hale. He has had various occupations in central Australia relating to Aboriginal language and land.

Jane Simpson. After degrees in English literature, Chinese and linguistics at The Australian National University, Jane Simpson was awarded a PhD in linguistics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a thesis on Warlpiri language supervised by Ken Hale in 1983. She has worked with Warumungu and Wakirti Warlpiri speakers in Central Australia on language maintenance and dictionary-making.

About The Cover

Designed by Pfisterer + Freeman


Customer Reviews

Based on 5 reviews
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C
Cliff G.
So much more than a dictionary

You can flip this book open at almost any page and find something special and unexpected.
For linguists and for anyone interested in indigenous languages, this is must-have.

K
Kathryn H.
Outstanding achievement

Congratulations to the team behind this very comprehensive dictionary. We need to see more of these types of publications from other language groups. This is a beautiful book and takes pride of place in my library. An amazing achievement. Thankyou!

M
M M.
Ground-breaking language resource

How wonderful to see this amazing book finally published! The work of many Warlpiri speakers and linguists over many years, it is probably the most extensive dictionary of any Indigenous Australian language -- truly encyclopaedic in its scope. This is an excellent resource for helping to keep language and culture strong. Congratulations to all involved.

Customer Reviews

Based on 5 reviews
100%
(5)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
C
Cliff G.
So much more than a dictionary

You can flip this book open at almost any page and find something special and unexpected.
For linguists and for anyone interested in indigenous languages, this is must-have.

K
Kathryn H.
Outstanding achievement

Congratulations to the team behind this very comprehensive dictionary. We need to see more of these types of publications from other language groups. This is a beautiful book and takes pride of place in my library. An amazing achievement. Thankyou!

M
M M.
Ground-breaking language resource

How wonderful to see this amazing book finally published! The work of many Warlpiri speakers and linguists over many years, it is probably the most extensive dictionary of any Indigenous Australian language -- truly encyclopaedic in its scope. This is an excellent resource for helping to keep language and culture strong. Congratulations to all involved.

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