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.
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.
AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 5 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 5 months ago
I guessed the same, but according to Wikipedia:
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.