Bidhawal language


The Bidawal language was an Australian [Aboriginal languages|Australian Aboriginal language], either a dialect of or closely related to the Kurnai language, formerly spoken by the Bidhawal. However, it had borrowed a number of words referring to mammals, birds and celestial bodies from Ngarigo, as well as a smaller number of words from Thawa and Dhudhuroa. The Bidawal called their own dialect mŭk-dhang , and that of the neighbouring Kurnai gūnggala-dhang 'strangers' language'. The Kurnai, however, called their own dialect mŭk-dhang, and that of the Bidawal kwai-thang. According to Alfred William Howitt, Bidhawal is a mixture of Kurnai, Ngarigo and Yuin.

Name

Based on historical spellings, Corey Theatre regularized the from as Pirtawal with a retroflex stop.
Historical spellings of Pirtawal
RepresentationTranslation listed
Source
Bid.doo.wul  Wild black Robinson
BidooalWild black Robinson
BirtowallScrub people  Bulmer
Bidwell-Bulmer
Bidwelli-Bulmer
Bidwell-Bulmer
Biduell/Bidwel  -Howitt
Biduellibrida, “scrub” uelli, “dweller”Howitt
Brida-wali  -Howitt
Bridueliscrub dwellingHowitt
Bidwell mittŭng  Bendoc blacks Howitt
Bidweli-Howitt
Beddiwell-Mathews
Birdhawal-Mathews
Biḍawal-Hercus

Phonology

Grammar

Pronouns

Pronouns are inflected for person, number, and case. There are no gendered pronouns.
The pronouns for Kurnai are vary similar to those for Bidhawal.