What is this website?
This site is under construction. Everything that is on the site right now is a proof of concept.
Welcome to Birraya! This is a platform to learn and practise the Gudjal language, which was traditionally spoken on Gudjal Country in
modern-day North Queensland. The language went to sleep in the 1970s, but it is currently being revitalised by the Gudjal community.
A lot of information about Gudjal was lost due to European invasion. So the Gudjal on this website is almost certainly a little different to
how Elders once spoke it. But all languages change over time, no matter the context.
What's important – and what this website aims to do – is to get more Gudjal people using and talking about their language. As more people join in,
certain words, spellings, and ways of speaking will become more familiar and more widely accepted. This is how languages wake up again.
William Santo
William Santo is a Gudjal Elder and author. He has been leading Gudjal language revitalisation for three decades. He is the author and co-author of several books, including My Country in Gudjal Language, Gudjal Book of Birds, Gudjal Language Pocket Dictionary, and Yaru! Gudjal Learner's Guide and Dictionary. William and Alex are working together to build Birraya.
Alex Anderson
Alex Anderson is a PhD student at the University of Sydney. He has been working alongside William on Gudjal language revitalisation since 2020. He is co-author of Yaru! Gudjal Learner's Guide and Dictionary. Together, Alex and William are writing new lessons for Gudjal. With William's guidance, Alex is also designing and developing the Birraya platform.