Gija Dictionary

Name: Gija Dictionary
Brand: Unknown
SKU: 9781922752109
Price: 147.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

By Anna Crane and Frances Kofod and Eileen Bray and Rusty Peters and Joe Blythe

Summary

Gija Dictionary presents the most comprehensive record of the Gija language, a traditional tongue from the East Kimberley region of north-west Australia. The book richly contextualises the language within the rugged landscape of weathered hills, spinifex, and sacred waterholes of Gija country, spanning areas including Warmun, Halls Creek, and the Purnululu National Park. It also acknowledges the historical challenges faced by the Gija people—from ecological damage by pastoralists, gold rush disruptions, and forced relocations—yet celebrates their enduring connection to land, culture, and language.
Read More

Format: Paperback / softback

$147⁰⁰

International Supplier

This title is in-stock with overseas suppliers. While it is not available locally, we fly books in weekly from the US and UK to our Auckland warehouse for immediate dispatch.

AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 2-3 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Gija Dictionary

$147⁰⁰

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Gija Dictionary will appeal to linguists, anthropologists, educators, and readers interested in Indigenous Australian cultures. It serves as an essential resource for those wishing to understand and preserve the Gija language and heritage. The inclusion of contributions from Gija artists also enriches its cultural significance, making this dictionary valuable for community members and researchers alike.

Description

Gija Dictionary presents Gija, a traditional language of the East Kimberley in the north-west of Australia. This region features a landscape of weathered hills embraced by spinifex, startling rocky outcrops, hidden waterholes, and dry riverbeds that transform into raging torrents during the wet season. Gija country stretches north of Warmun (Turkey Creek) in the upper reaches of the Ord and Dunham Rivers, south to Halls Creek, and west to Lansdowne and Tableland stations. Notably, the Purnululu (Bungle-Bungle Boornoolooloo) National Park resides within Gija country.

From the late 1800s, Gija people faced devastating losses as invading pastoralists introduced cattle that damaged waterholes and devastated the ecosystem. Fortune hunters pursued gold at Halls Creek, and the government forced people onto cattle stations. In the late 1960s, when Aboriginal stockmen were granted equal wages, many were expelled from the land. This second wave of dispossession led Gija people to relocate to Wyndham and Halls Creek, eventually settling in Warmun (Warrmarn), where most Gija people reside today. Many contributors to this dictionary include well-known artists who use painting to transmit their linguistic knowledge.

Despite this tragic history of loss, Gija people remain on their country, living their culture and speaking their language. This new dictionary of Gija, the most comprehensive ever published, is a testament to their resilience.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781922752109

Publisher: Aboriginal Studies Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 November 2022

Country: Australia

Imprint: Aboriginal Studies Press

Illustration: Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 170.0mm

Height: 240.0mm

Weight: 700g

Pages: 430

Collections

Anna Crane Education & Reference Eileen Bray Frances Kofod Joe Blythe Non-Fiction Rusty Peters

About the Author

Frances Kofod has worked with Gija, Miriwoong and Gajirrabeng languages since the 1970s and has been involved in many Gija language and culture projects at Warrmarn (Warmun Turkey Creek), including helping establish Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language and Culture Centre in Kununurra (WA).

Mr R Peters was born in 1935 at Balinyin, Springvale Station, in the East Kimberley. When young he learned Gija law in the bush. After he and other Aboriginal stockmen were forced to leave stations after the granting of citizenship and equal wages in 1967, Mr Peters began teaching Gija language at the Ngalangangpum School at Warmun and dedicated his life to passing on Gija culture.

Eileen Bray grew up in the bush in Gija country on Binoowoo (Alice Downs) and Gilban (Mabel Downs). She has taught Gjia language at the Ngalangangpum School at Warrmarn (Warmun Turkey Creek) since the 1970s, and has been a senior language consultant on many Gija projects.

Anna Crane has worked on Gija language documentation, description and revitalisation projects since 2005, including as an educational linguist in community schools, and as assistant to a Hans Rausing Endangered Languages Documentation Project.

Joe Blythe is an interactional linguist specialising in Australian Indigenous languages. His research interests include gesture and embodiment, turn-taking, spatial cognition, language evolution, kinship concepts and social identities.

Also by Frances Kofod

View all

Gija Goowoolem Doo Minybernem Gija trees and grasses

By Birrmarriya Shirley Purdie and Frances Kofod

Hardback

$69⁹⁹

Available
Ships in 4-6 weeks