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]