Kunwinjku Readers

Kunwinjku Readers

Kamak bu ngurriborlbme ngurriwokbekkan dja ngurriwokbimbun Kunwinjku! (Enjoy learning to read and write in Kunwinjku!)

Direct from Bininj Kunwok Regional Language and Culture Centre (West Arnhem Land) comes this highly collectible set of 20 readers for early learners of the Kunwinjku language. First produced in the early 1980s at the Oenpelli Literature Production Centre, the readers have been ‘refreshed’ yet retain their original charm including their illustrations by Olive Namarnilk and Lois Namarnyilk. Lois has also contributed as writer along with Julie Narndal with each reader built around a phrase. For example, Duruk kamang … (The dog gets … ) mayhmayh (some birds), djarrang (horse), or kunkanj (some meat), et cetera. Each book includes an English translation at the back along with a QR code to access the story’s Kunwinjku audio.

“Despite the demise of the bilingual program [at Gunbalanya School] due to changes in education policy over the years”, says Bininj Kunwok, “these Kunwinjku readers have remained in circulation in Gunbalanya community and are still much loved by those who value Kunwinjku literacy and Bininj culture.” Bininj Kunwok is offering the books free of charge to language speaking communities and selling them through distributors such as Batchelor Press to subsidise the cost of printing.