R. H. Mathews supplied a brief analysis of the Wotjobaluk language (now known as Wergaia[1]), describing what he called the Tyattyalla dialect of the Wotjobaluk around Albacutya[2] He stated that it was characterised by four numbers: the singular, the dual, trial, and plural.[3] There were, in addition, two forms of the trial number for the 1st person, depending on whether the person addressed was included or excluded.[3] Thus one obtains: wutju (a man); "wutju-buliñ" (two men); wutju-kullik (three men); wutju-getyaul (several men).[3][4]
In mid-2021 a language revival project started up at the Wotjobaluk Knowledge Place, established in December 2020 at Dimboola. A Wergaia language program would run over 20 weeks.[5]
Country
Wotjobaluk territory took in some 12,000 square kilometres (4,800 sq mi) inclusive of the Wimmera River, Outlet Creek and the two eutrophic lakes, Hindmarsh and Albacutya. Their southern borders down ran to Dimboola, Kaniva, and Servicetown. Their western frontier lay beyond Yanac, and to the east, as far as Warracknabeal and Lake Korong. Their northern horizon reached Pine Plains.[6]
Wotjobaluk hunters told Adolf Hartmann that kangaroos had acute hearing, and could twig the presence of a predator at 150 yards simply by hearing the noise of ankle-bones cracking. Older kangaroos were apt to cast their young from their marsupial pouch if chased by dingos, to distract the dogs from their main prey.[8]
Cultural centre
The Wotjobaluk Knowledge Place, apart from teaching language (see above), displays artworks, conducts workshops, and is a centre for social get-togethers.[5]
