The Bidawal language was an 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 (or ) ("good speech"), and that of the neighbouring Kurnai 'strangers' language'. The Kurnai, however, called their own dialect mŭk-dhang, and that of the Bidawal kwai-thang ("rough speech"). 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 +Representation Translation listed (Language attributed to) SourceBid.doo.wul Wild black (Maneroo) Robinson (1844, see Clark, 2000) BidooalWild black (Mallogottor mittong) Robinson (1844, see Clark, 2000)BirtowallScrub people Bulmer (in Curr, 1887, p. 540)Bidwell -Bulmer (in Curr, 1887, p. 540) Bidwelli -Bulmer (in Curr, 1887, p. 540) Bidwell -Bulmer (1878, p. 3) Biduell/Bidwel -Howitt (XM690, p. 54) Biduellibrida, “scrub” uelli, “dweller”Howitt (1904, p. 74) Brida-wali -Howitt (n.d.-b, p. 136) Bridueliscrub dwelling Howitt (n.d.-b, p. 136) Bidwell mittŭng Bendoc blacks (Maneroo and Ngarigo) Howitt (n.d.-r, p. 16) Bidweli -Howitt (1886, p. 410) Beddiwell -Mathews (1898, p. 67) Birdhawal -Mathews (1907, p. 346) Biḍawal -Hercus (1969, p. 243)
Phonology +Bidhawal consonantsLabialDentalAlveolarRetroflexPalatalVelarPlosive~~ //~ ~Nasal RhoticLateralApproximant~~
Grammar
Pronouns Pronouns are inflected for person, number, and case. There are no gendered pronouns. +Bidhawal pronounsSingularDualPlural rowspan="4" 1st personinclusiveNgaiuNgalluNgangunexclusiveNgallungNgangunnang2nd personNginduNgindubulNgindigan3rd personMindhaMindhabullongMindhagullang rowspan="4" 1st personinclusiveNgaindya––exclusive––2nd personNgingunna––3rd personNgaianga–– The pronouns for Kurnai (Gūnggaladhang) are very similar to those for Bidhawal.
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