Gurr-Goni
The Gungorogone are an indigenous Australian people of the Northern Territory.Name
The tribal autonym is formed by an apparent suffix gurr- and -goni, their word for 'this'.Language
is a non-Pama-Nyungan language belonging to the Gunwinyguan family of languages, and has been described by Rebecca Green. It is one of the four Maningrida languages, the others being Ndjebbana, Nakkara and Burarra. Despite their genetic similarity, shared vocabulary rates are low, with 22% between Gurr-goni and Ndjebbana, and 24% between Gurr-goni and Nakkara. It has two dialects, associated with the two moieties, respectively gun-dakangurrngu Gurrgoni, or 'hard Gurr-goni' and gunnjalkitj or 'soft' Gurrgoni.Country
The Gungorogone were inlanders living south of Maningrida, who dwelt in the area to the southeast of the headwaters of the , on and to the west of the Cadell River.
Neighbouring tribes were the Dangkolo and Manengkererrbe clans to their west, Gunavidji and Nakkara on their northern frontier. Running clockwise, the Burarra and Gun-nartpa, Ngulinj clan, and finally, the Kardbam clan on their southern flank.Social organization
The Gungorogone were composed of 5 clans in recent memory.
- The Boburerre
- The Andirrdjalaba.
- The Gulumarrarra
Extinct clans:
- The Atbimingi
- The Marrarditj.
In terms of social structure, they comprise two moieties, differentiated linguistically by distinct dialects:-
- The Yirrtjinga moiety
- The Djowunga moiety.
Alternative names
- Gungoragone
- Gungoro:lgo:ngi
- Gungarawoni
- Gungurulgungi
Citations