Bunuba language


Bunuba is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by some 160 older Bunuba adults, most of whom live in Junjuwa, an Aboriginal community in Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia. Bunuba is not related to the Pama-Nyungan language family that spans the majority of Australia, though it is a relative of Guniyandi.
Due to the growing concern of their language becoming extinct, the elders make an effort by passing on stories to their younger people around the campfires at night. This is a way the Bunuba elders prevent the extinction of their language, passing it down through generations.

Phonology

Bunuba has only three basic vowel phonemes: /i, a, u/. /a/ is the only vowel demonstrating contrastive vowel length. There are no other vowel phonemes.