Tasmanian languages
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The Tasmanian languages are the indigenous languages of the island of Tasmania, Australia. The Tasmanian languages are believed to have became extinct in 1905, with the death of the last known speaker, Fanny Cochrane Smith.
Only little of the languages is known and no conclusive relationships with other languages were found so far, although it has been proposed that they are related to other Australian Aboriginal languages, mainly based on some phonological similarities. On the other hand, Joseph Greenberg proposed an Indo-Pacific languages superfamily also containing Andamanese languages and Papuan languages but not Australian Aboriginal languages. This hypothesis has not met with acceptance by historical linguists.
Fanny Cochrane Smith recorded a series of wax cylinder recordings of Aboriginal songs, the only existing audio recording of the Tasmanian indigenous languages.
[edit] Bibliography
- Crowley, T, Dixon, R. M. W. (1981). “Tasmanian”, Dixon, R. M. W. and Blake, B. J.: Handbook of Australian languages, Vol 2, Canberra: Australian National University Press, 394–421.
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Non-native languages:
Indo-European: Australian English and Australian Aboriginal English • Torres Strait Creole • Kriol
Austronesian: Cocos Islands Malay
Other: Auslan
Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages:
Native isolates:: Enindhilyagwa • Laragiya • Ngurmbur • Tiwi
Established native:: Bunaban • Daly • Limilngan • Djeragan • Nyulnyulan • Wororan
Newly proposed native: Mindi • Djamindjungan • West Barkly • Arnhem Land macrofamily • Burarran • Yiwaidjan • Giimbiyu • Kakadu • Umbugarla
Macro-Pama Nyungan: Gunwinyguan and perhaps the Ngurmbur isolate
Greater Pama-Nyungan: Tankic • Garawa • Pama-Nyungan proper
Other: Minkin and languages of Tasmania
