Paakantyi language

Last updated

Darling
Paakantyi
Native to Australia
Ethnicity Paakantyi, Kula (Kurnu), Naualko, Paaruntyi, Parrintyi, Wilyakali (Wiljali), Danggali, Maraura, Wanjiwalku
Native speakers
110 (2021 census) [1]
Pama–Nyungan
  • Yarli–Baagandji
    • Darling
Dialects
  • ?Gurnu (Guula)
  • Naualko
  • Baarundji
  • Barrindji
  • Wiljaali
  • Dhanggaali (Thangkaali)
  • Bulaali
  • Wanyuparlku (Wanyuparlku)
  • Pantyikali
  • Marawara (Maraura) [2]
Language codes
ISO 639-3 drl
Glottolog darl1243
AIATSIS [3] D12
ELP Paakantyi
Darling language.png
The Darling language (green) among other Pama–Nyungan (tan)
Lang Status 20-CR.svg
Paakantyi is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger

The Paakantyi language, also spelt Paakantji, Barkindji, Barkandji, and Baagandji, and is also known as the Darling language, is a nearly extinct Australian Aboriginal language spoken along the Darling River in New South Wales from the present-day Queensland Border to Bourke, then all along the river down to Wentworth. It includes much of the back country around the Paroo River, plus an area along the Coopers Creek into Queensland and also through the Broken Hill district. Check the map of Australia to the right below, which indicates out territory. The people's, and language name, refers to the Paaka (Darling River or the modern name Darling-Barka) with the suffix -ntyi meaning "belonging to". See below. [4] The speakers of the language are known as the Paakantyi (or variant spelling). The variant is slightly different along the river proper and ceases at the confluence of the Darling-Barka and the Murray rivers. We did cross the Murray by bark canoes to meet the river people back early last century.

Contents

My learnings began when the Elder's Gumarah (Head Elder of the River People (at Mildura), and also Bandicoot (Head Elder from Bourke) began my teachings from the age of six, some sixty six years ago.. Both have gone to the Dreamtime so we never say their first names now. For it is the Clan law. I am a fifth generation nominated Elder of the Barkintji and am reasonably fluent in the language for whence I began the learnings in Broken Hill and also at Myall Station. Barkintji broken down means - Bark - the river red gums bark, - Int - the inside of the gums, and dtji - the water that flows through the roots from the river into the trees for their life. My name. "Mewe" is the cry of the silver gull in the inland fresh waters and it also refers to the sea gull in the salt waters. Some of our clan met and had relations with the clan at Mount Gambier and also Goolwa at the Turwitcherie Barrages, when applying stones on the river and sea bed when fishing for callop, cod, shark and the giant mulloway at the barrage entrance. The map to the right does show the extent of our clan territories but does not show right down to the Turwitcherie, nor into Victoria around Mildura..

I am one of the 111 people of the 2021 census that speak Paakantyl at home.

The major work on the Paakantyi language has been that of linguist Luise Hercus. [4]

Dialects

Dialects of Paakantyi include Southern Paakantyi (Baagandji, Bagundji), Kurnu (Kula), Wilyakali (Wiljagali), and Pantyikali-Wanyiwalku (Wanyuparlku, Bandjigali, Baarundji), Parrintyi (Barrindji), Marawara (Maraura). Bowern (2011) lists Gurnu/Guula as a separate language, though Hercus includes it because of its almost identical vocabulary. [5] Dixon adds several other names, some perhaps synonyms; [2] Bulaali (Bulali) may have been an alternative name for Wilyakali, but also for a different language, Maljangapa. [6]

However; Tindale (1940) mapped the 'Rite of Circumcision' border around Wanyiwalku separating it from the rest of Paakantyi - Tindale instead groups Wanyiwalku together with Maljangapa, Wadikali & Karenggapa of the Yarli language.

Current status

A 2012 report indicated that two people could speak the Darling language fluently, [7] while in the 2021 census, 111 individuals indicated that Paakantyi was spoken at home.

Phonology

Consonants

Labial Dental Palatal Alveolar Retroflex Velar
Plosive p t̪ c t ʈ k
Nasal m n̪ ɲ n ɳ ŋ
Lateral l̪ ʎ l ɭ
Rhotic ɾ ~ r
Approximant w j ɻ

Voiceless stops can also be heard as voiced [b, d̪, d, ɟ, ɖ, ɡ].

Vowels

Front Central Back
Close ɪ , i ʊ , u
Open ə , a

[8]

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References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021). "Cultural diversity: Census" . Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  2. 1 2 Dixon, R. M. W. (2002). Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development. Cambridge University Press. p. xxxvi.
  3. ↑ D12 Darling at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  4. 1 2 Luise Hercus. Baagandji Grammar, ANU 1960; Paakantyi Dictionary (published with the assistance of AIATSIS, 1993)
  5. ↑ Luise Hercus. Paakantyi Dictionary (published with the assistance of AIATSIS, 1993)
  6. ↑ D11 Bulali at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  7. ↑ Paul, Margaret (30 May 2012). "Funding sought for Aboriginal language classes". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  8. ↑ Andersen, Elena (2015). Development of a Learner's Grammar for Paakantyi (Thesis). University of Sydney.
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