Tangkic languages

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

Tangkic
Geographic
distribution
southeastern coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Wellesley Islands
Linguistic classificationMacro-Pama–Nyungan?
  • Greater Pama–Nyungan?
    • Tangkic
Subdivisions
Glottologtang1340
Garawa and Tangkic (green). Tangkic lies along the coast.

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]

EnglishLaːdilNeːmarang
man jugadbaɖabidinaŋga
woman binŋinmagudaŋga
head lälganälda
eye gɔamiːbul
nose njuldagirga
mouth Läminwara
tongue djalda Lämindjärŋana
wallaby gandjinmagurag
crow waːgadjaɖag
sun wargawargu
moon giɖigiɽwaldar
fire njudaŋida
smoke ḏuŋalwadu
water ŋogaŋogo
raft wälbawälbu
paddle bilirbilir
father gandaganda
mother ŋama
sky, above vägiri, walmanwarmu
ground duLgaduLga
wind wanŋalwarma
snake jälburjälbur
food vɛnɛwulaŋ
ashes bɔrbogalar
sea mälamala
whirlwind warguḏulɛndanamaŋ

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.
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