Diyari is part of the Kamic branch of the Pama-Nyungan language family. It was traditionally spoken in northern South Australia to the east of Lake Eyre North, particularly in Marree, Port Augusta and Broken Hill, and also in Adelaide. In 2016 there were just five fluent speakers. There are also several hundred more people with some knowledge of the language. The language is also known as Dieri, Diari, Diyeri or Diererie.
Diyari was first studied by German missionaries. They set up a Christian mission station at Lake Killalpaninna on Cooper Creek in 1867 and divised a way to write the language with the Latin alphabet. They translated religious works into Diyari, used it in their mission school, and created dictionaries and other teaching materials. The mission was closed by the South Australian government in 1914.
A grammar of Diyari was produced in 1981 by Peter K. Austin, an Australian linguist. He has been working with the Dieri Aboriginal Corporation to revitalize the language since 2011, and published a draft dictionary of Diyari in 2013.
Information about the Diyari alphabet supplied by Wolfram Siegel
Information about Diyari
Alyawarr, Arrernte, Bundjalung, Dhuwal, Diyari, Djinang, Djinba, Gamilaraay, Gooniyandi, Gugadja, Guugu Yalandji, Guugu Yimithirr, Kala Lagaw Ya, Kalkatungu, Kaurna, Kuku Nyungkal, Kunjen, Kuuk Thaayorre, Martu Wangka, Ngaanyatjarra, Ngiyambaa, Nhangu, Noongar, Paakantyi, Pintupi, Pitjantjatjara, Warlpiri, Wemba Wemba, Wik-Mungkan, Wiradjuri, Yindjibarndi, Yolŋu
Page last modified: 02.12.21
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