| Bidyara | |
|---|---|
| Spoken in | Australia |
| Native speakers | unknown (20 cited 1981) |
| Language family |
Pama–Nyungan
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | bym |
Bidjara is a nearly extinct language of Australia. Bidyara is spoken by twenty elders in Queensland, between Tambo and Augathella, Warrego and Langlo rivers (according to Ethnologue). It is an aboriginal language. It is also the only aboriginal language in eastern Australia. It is sadly shifting to English. This is an example of people not continuing to have a passion for their native language. Ruhlen (1987) said this was an extinct language.
Australian Bidjara artist and the inaugural Charlie Perkins Scholar Christian Bumbarra Thompson employs his Bidjara language in his video work in attempt to redistribute his language into the public realm. His work 'Gamu Mambu' which means 'Blood Song' in Bidjara is a video work of a Dutch Baroque Opera Singer singing in Bidjara. It was included in the 17th Sydney International Biennale ' The Beauty of Distance: Songs of Survival in a Precarious Age' and is held in the Museum of Contemporary Art Collection, Sydney. His work 'Desert Slippers' was also included in the National Indigenous Art Triennial 'Culture Warriors' and features Thompson and hid Father greeting each other in Bidjara. His work ' Decent Extremist' was also included in the Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art. The sound work features the words 'Nguwal' meaning bee swarm and 'muna' meaning bee. Thompson voice saying these phrases has manipulated to sound like an actual bee swarm and individual bee.