Gunwinyguan languages
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The Gunwinyguan languages form the second largest family of Australian Aboriginal languages. They are spoken in Arnhem Land in northern Australia. The most populous language is Gunwinygu, with some 1500 speakers.
Although the validity of the Gunwinyguan family is widely accepted, the inclusion of some lesser known language isolates is debated. Ethnologue, for example, includes the Burarran languages, Kakadu, and Enindhilyagwa, which are not included here. What follows is based on a recent classification by Nicholas Evans at the University of Melbourne.
[edit] Classification
- Gunwinyguan proper: Jawony (Djauan), Ngandi, Ngalakgan, Kunwinjku (Gunwinggu, Kunwinjku), Kunbarlang, Ngalkbun, Rembarrnga, Wagiman, Wardaman, Yangman
- Maran languages: Alawa, Warndarrang, Marra
- Kungarakany language
- Nunggubuyu language
- Waray language
- Mangarayi language
Evans has proposed that Gunwinyguan is related to the Pama-Nyungan languages in a family he calls Macro-Pama-Nyungan. A full list of languages currently classified as Gunwinyguan can be found here.
[edit] Reference
- McConvell, Patrick and Nicholas Evans. (eds.) 1997. Archaeology and Linguistics: Global Perspectives on Ancient Australia. Melbourne: Oxford University Press
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Non-native languages:
Indo-European: Australian English and Australian Aboriginal English
Austronesian: Cocos Malay
Creoles: Torres Strait Creole • Kriol
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
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