Tangkic languages

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Tangkic
Geographic
distribution
southeastern coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Wellesley Islands
Linguistic classification Macro-Pama–Nyungan?
  • Greater Pama–Nyungan?
    • Tangkic
Subdivisions
Glottolog tang1340
Macro-Pama-Nyungan languages.png
Garawa and Tangkic (green). Tangkic lies along the coast.

The Tangkic languages form a small language family of Australian Aboriginal languages spoken in northern Australia.

The Tangkic languages are Lardil (Leerdil) and its special register Damin, Kayardild, and Yukulta (also known as Ganggalida or Nyangga). Of these Lardil is quite divergent, while Yukulta and Kayardild are mutually intelligible.

The extinct and poorly attested Minkin language may have been part of the Tangkic family. [1]

Vocabulary

Capell (1942) lists the following basic vocabulary items: [2]

English Laːdil Neːmarang
manjugadbaɖabidinaŋga
womanbinŋinmagudaŋga
headlälganälda
eyegɔamiːbul
nosenjuldagirga
mouthLäminwara
tonguedjalda Lämindjärŋana
wallabygandjinmagurag
crowwaːgadjaɖag
sunwargawargu
moongiɖigiɽwaldar
firenjudaŋida
smokeḏuŋalwadu
waterŋogaŋogo
raftwälbawälbu
paddlebilirbilir
fathergandaganda
motherŋama
sky, abovevägiri, walmanwarmu
groundduLgaduLga
windwanŋalwarma
snakejälburjälbur
foodvɛnɛwulaŋ
ashesbɔrbogalar
seamälamala
whirlwindwarguḏulɛndanamaŋ

Related Research Articles

Damin was a ceremonial language register used by the advanced initiated men of the aboriginal Lardil and the Yangkaal peoples of northern Australia. Both inhabit islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Lardil on Mornington Island, the largest island of the Wesley Group, and the Yangkaal on the Forsyth Islands. Their languages belong to the same family, the Tangkic languages. Lardil is the most divergent of the Tangkic languages, while the others are mutually comprehensible with Yangkaal.

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References

  1. Bowern, Claire. 2011. "How Many Languages Were Spoken in Australia?", Anggarrgoon: Australian languages on the web, December 23, 2011 (corrected February 6, 2012)
  2. Capell, Arthur. 1941-1942, 1942-1943. Languages of Arnhem Land, North Australia. Oceania 12: 364-392, 13: 24-51.