• AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space
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        2 months ago

        I thought it may have been a more accurate and respectful transcription of the First Nations language the word came from, as opposed to the simplified colonial-era anglicisations, though it being Spanish orthography makes sense.

        • rxxrc@lemmy.ml
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          2 months ago

          I guessed the same, but according to Wikipedia:

          The name wallaby comes from Dharug walabi or waliba.

          I’m not sure how modern anglicisation works but I assume what’s given there is considered the most accurate spelling of the indigenous word. So “wallaby” isn’t too far off.