For 157 entries in Reuther’s Diyari dictionary there is information about sets of related words in Diyari and neighbouring languages that have the same or similar meaning. We have extracted these from the Dictionary and sorted them alphabetically by their English translation. Then, we have added modern forms of the words (using the same spelling system as Diyari), where they are known, plus relevant comments. These are based on research on neighbouring languages by Gavan Breen, Luise Hercus, and Peter K. Austin (see References). The languages included are Diyari, Wangkanguru, Thirari, Arabana, Ngamini, Kuyani, Yandruwandha, and Yawarrawarka, with occasional forms in Pilardapa and Karangura. Here are two examples:
The format of entries is as follows:
- in the left column are the language names;
- in the middle column are the Reuther forms in green;
- in the right column are modern forms in blue, where they are known. Gaps in the table, especially for Kuyani, mean that we do not have information for that particular word. Hyphens indicate word structure (morphological) analysis;
- where cognate words are unknown from contemporary sources we sometimes reconstitute what they might have been, and these are given in orange. Asterisks indicate completely unknown forms;
- *Editor: notes give further information about the materials in the entry. For Kuyani forms comparisons with the related Adnyamathanha language (not included by Reuther) can often be useful. Where specialist linguistic terms are employed in the Editor notes, these are given in blue.
Here are another two sample entries:
Note: Volume V of Reuther’s original manuscript contains listings of 1,747 word comparisons in Diyari, Wangkangurru, Arabana, Thirari, Ngamini, Yawarrawarka, Yandruwandha and Kuyani. It is possible that Reuther had intended to integrate this into his main dictionary but stopped after he got to Dictionary entry No. 1218, where we find the last comparative table.
Feedback and information about additional related forms from readers is very welcome.
To go to the Dictionary Comparative Vocabulary Supplement click here.
To go to the Comparative Wordlist click here.
To go to all resources click here.