Warlpiri Encyclopaedic Dictionary

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.

Shortlisted for the 2023 Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA)

Longlisted for the 2023 Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award

A digital version is available from online bookstores.

Production Details

• Hardback and digital
• 1416 pp + 4pp cover (includes 16 pp full colour)
• Released 1 December 2022
• ISBN 9781925302424
  

Contents

Preface
Contributors
Chapter 1: About Warlpiri people and language
Chapter 2: Abbreviations used in dictionary entries
Chapter 3: Warlpiri pronunciation and spelling
Chapter 4: Warlpiri grammar guide
Chapter 5: How to find a word in this dictionary
Chapter 6: Warlpiri to English dictionary
Chapter 7: English to Warlpiri word finder list
Chapter 8: Appendices

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.

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