Wik languages

Last updated

Wik
Middle Paman
Ethnicity Wik peoples
Geographic
distribution
Cape York Peninsula, Queensland
Linguistic classification Pama–Nyungan
Subdivisions
  • Wik-Ngathan
  • Wik-Me'nh
  • Wik-Mungkan
  • Kugu-Muminh
  • Ayabadhu
  • Pakanha
Glottolog wika1239  (Wik proper) [1]
paka1251  (Pakanha) [2]
wikn1246  (Kugu-Muminh) [3]
Wik languages.png
Wik languages (green) among other Pama–Nyungan (tan)

The Wik languages are a subdivision of the Paman languages consisting of sixteen languages, all spoken on the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland, Australia. This grouping was first proposed by R. M. W. Dixon. [4]

Each of the Kugu-Muminh dialects may have the prefix Wik- instead of Kugu-. Wik Paach is not a Wik language despite its name.

The languages are as follows; often various dialects are considered separate languages:

The Flinders Island language and Barrow Point language were apparently Wik.

See also

Related Research Articles

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North Cape York Paman languages

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Urradhi is a Paman language of the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland, Australia, and is apparently extinct. It was spoken by the Urradhi people. Urradhi proper is the south-western dialect of the language. The name is composed of urra "this" and the proprietive dhi "having". The south-eastern dialect of the same language, Wudhadhi, is made of the same elements, wudha being "this". These are part of a group of closely related and highly mutually intelligible dialects, these being Angkamuthi to the north of Urradhi, Atampaya inland from these, Utudhanamu inland north from Atampaya, Yantaykenu further north, being the language of the Bamaga area, Yadhaykenu on the east coast north of Wudhadhi, and Yaraytyana further north again. This group has no common language name, though Urradhi is commonly used as a cover name. It is unknown when it became extinct.

Wik-Ngatharr, or Wik-Alken (Wik-Elken), is a Paman language spoken on the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland, Australia, by the Wik-Ngatharr people. It is a co-dialect with Wik-Ngathan, and more distantly related to the other Wik languages. In 1981 there were 86 speakers.

Wik-Mungkan, or Wik-Mungknh, is a Paman language spoken on the northern part of Cape York Peninsula of Queensland, Australia, by around 1,650 Wik-Mungkan people, and related peoples including the Wikalkan, Wik-Ngathana, Wikngenchera language groups. Wik Mungkan is healthier than most other languages on the peninsula, and is developing and absorbing other Aboriginal languages very quickly.

Kugu-Muminh (Wik-Muminh), also known as Kugu- or Wik-Nganhcara (Wikngenchera), is a Paman language spoken on the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland, Australia, by several of the Wik peoples. There are multiple dialects, only two of which are still spoken: Kugu-Muminh itself, and Kugu-Uwanh.

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Wik-Me'nh is a Paman language of the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland, Australia

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References

  1. Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Wik". Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
  2. Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Pakanha". Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
  3. Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Wikngenchera". Glottolog 3.0 . Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
  4. Dixon, R. M. W. (2002). Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development.