Wik-Ngathan language

Last updated

Wik-Ngathan
Wik-Iinjtjenj
Native to Australia
Region Cape York Peninsula, Queensland
Ethnicity Wiknatanja, Wik-Kalkan
Native speakers
3 (2016 census) [1]
Dialects
Language codes
ISO 639-3 Either:
wig   Wik Ngathan
wik   Wikalkan
Glottolog wikn1245   Wik-Ngathana
AIATSIS [2] Y54  Wik Ngathan, Y51  Wik Ngatharr
ELP Wik-Ngathana
Lang Status 60-DE.svg
Wik-Ngathan is classified as Definitely Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
Coordinates: 13°52′S141°31′E / 13.867°S 141.517°E / -13.867; 141.517

Wik-Ngathan, or Wik-Iinjtjenj (Wik-Iinychanya), is a Paman language spoken on the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland, Australia, by the Wik-Ngathan people. It is closely related to the other Wik-Ngathan language, Wik-Ngatharr and more distantly to the other Wik languages. In 1981 there were 130 speakers. [3]

Contents

A dictionary of Wik-Ngathan has been compiled by Peter Sutton. [4]

Phonology

Consonants

Peripheral Laminal Apical Glottal
Labial Velar Dental Palatal Alveolar
Plosive p k c t ʔ
Nasal m ŋ ɲ n
Lateral l
Tap/Trill ɾ ~ r
Approximant w j ɹ

Vowels

Front Central Back
High i y u
Mid e o
Low a

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The Wik Elken, also spelt Wik-Kalkan and also known as Wik-Ngatharr, are an Aboriginal Australian people, one of the Wik peoples of the Cape York Peninsula of the state of Queensland.

References

  1. "Census 2016, Language spoken at home by Sex (SA2+)". stat.data.abs.gov.au. ABS. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  2. Y54 Wik Ngathan at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies   (see the info box for additional links)
  3. Ethnologue
  4. Sutton, Peter (1995). Wik-Ngathan Dictionary.
  5. Sutton, Peter John (1978). The Wik-Ngathana Language. Wik: Aboriginal Society, Territory and Language at Cape Keerweer, Cape York Peninsula, Australia: Brisbane: University of Queensland. pp. 234–241.