Gubbi Gubbi language

Gubbi Gubbi, also spelt Kabi Kabi, is a language of Queensland in Australia, formerly spoken by the Kabi [Kabi people] of South-east Queensland. The main dialect, Gubbi Gubbi, is extinct, but there are still 24 people with knowledge of the Butchulla dialect, a language spoken by the Butchulla people of K'gari.

Language status

The main dialect is extinct, but there were still 24 people with knowledge of the Batjala dialect as of the 2016 [Australian census].

Phonology

The following is in the Badjala/Butchulla dialect:

Consonants

/n̪/ is always heard as palatal when preceding /i/, and in word-final position.
/d̪/ can be heard in free variation with palatal .
/b d̪ ɡ/ can have lenited allophones in intervocalic positions.
/ɻ/ has a lateral allophone of when preceding /b/.
/ɡ/ is often slightly palatalised as before /i/.

Vowels

can sometimes be heard as before.
can be heard as when preceding an intervocalic.

Lexicon

According to Norman Tindale, the word Kabi, means "no".
Wunya ngulum means "Welcome, everyone" in Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi.