‘G is for gugunyal’ is an alphabet book designed to introduce young people to the land and marine animals of Dhurga Country. It is also designed to help new speakers pronounce the 24 sounds used in the Dhurga language. The book’s QR code gives readers an opportunity to hear the book’s Dhurga sounds and words spoken by a Yuin Elder.
The striking illustrations feature strong colours and often include Aboriginal designs in the background scene or on the particular animal highlighted. The featured animals include the fish, wombat, stingray, a Hairy man peering around a tree, porpoise, octopus, kookaburra, turtle, toad fish, mosquito, seagull, fly, black cockatoo, mud crab, fish hawk, snake, big frog, great white shark, goanna, spider, kangaroo, bandicoot, black duck and platypus. Images and backgrounds fill the single or double page spreads with bold colours. These often include additional Aboriginal designs in either backgrounds or on the animal featured. Each scene is highlighted with a white frame around each page, making each image appear closer to the viewer.
This picture book is intended to highlight for children the Dhurga language which is presented in the book for adults, ‘The Dhurga Dictionary and Learner’s Grammar: A south-east coast NSW Aboriginal language’. (Aboriginal Studies Press, 2020) Dhurgah is one of four traditional languages of the south coast of New South Wales. It was spoken by Yuin (Yuwinj) people between Nowra and Narooma, and as far inland as Braidwood and Araluen.
Leanne Brook is a proud Murramarang Yuin woman living in Ulladulla, New South Wales. As a contemporary artist, illustrator and author, she uses her art to connect with her culture, land, people and language. The Dhurga language is one of the four south coast languages in New South Wales.
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
