Vignette 143: The Kaurna Dictionary

The Kaurna Warrapiipa: Kaurna Dictionary, published by Wakefield Press in 2021, reflects three decades of research and reclamation efforts undertaken by and on behalf of the Kaurna community.

In 2002, Kaurna Elders Dr Alitya Wallara Rigney and Dr Lewis Yarlupurka O’Brien collaborated with Associate Professor Rob Amery to form Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi (KWP), whose name translates to ‘creating Kaurna language’. Since 2004, KWP has been hosted by the University. It has provided oversight and direction for the Kaurna language movement; its members answered requests for Kaurna words, translations, and information at regular meetings until 2014, after which time Kaurna Warra Karrpanthi (KWK) took over.

Kaurna Warrapiipa was produced and written by Dr Rob Amery, Susie Greenwood and Jasmin Morley for KWP and KWK. They consulted all known primary sources of the Kaurna language, but they incorporated new words too, and notes on the sound and spelling systems. The dictionary serves as an important work of reference and also as an introduction to the language.

The University of Adelaide: 150 Years of Making History.  Preserving a legacy.  p.191