Umpithamu Language Dictionary

For 17 years, Lamalama knowledge holders Florrie Bassani and Joan Liddy worked with linguist Jean-Christophe Verstraete to record the Umpithamu language. This life’s work resulted in the publication of the Umpithamu dictionary in 2020. 

Umpithamu is one of five languages spoken by the Lamalama people of Cape York’s Princess Charlotte Bay area.

Florrie Bassani and Joan Liddy were the last fluent speakers of Umpithamu and without their generous contribution of knowledge, this dictionary would not have been possible and the Umpithamu language may have been lost forever, in particular ecological knowledge which is important for knowing about and looking after country. 

Displacement, disease, massacres and removals from Country impacted the speaking of Umpithamu. Today, the Lamalama people are in control of almost all of their traditional lands, are learning language and using the Umpithamu dictionary to teach aspects of culture to the Junior Ranger Program. 

‘The dictionary is a great way to preserve the Umpithamu language’, said Elaine Liddy, cultural officer for the Lamalama people and niece of Mrs Bassani. 

‘It will be a very useful resource in the Junior Ranger Program where it will allow the younger generation of Lamalama people to learn about their cultural heritage.

‘Myself, my siblings and the younger generations haven't been taught our language. Our first language was English. This will help us hold on to our culture a lot more.'

‘It's an emotional time though, because my late auntie is not here to see the book but I know she's with us, standing beside us, guiding us.’ 

Seven hundred copies of the dictionary were provided to the community either through community schools or libraries.