Gaagudju language

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Gaagudju
Spoken in: Northern Territory
Language extinction: May 2002 when Big Bill Neidjie died
Language family: Arnhem Land languages
 Gaagudju
Language codes
ISO 639-1: none
ISO 639-2: aus
ISO 639-3: gbu

Gaagudju (also spelt Gagadu and Kakadu) is an extinct Australian Aboriginal language formerly spoken in Arnhem Land, northern Australia, in the environs of Kakadu National Park. Its last speaker, Big Bill Neidjie, died on 23 May 2002.

Contents

[edit] Classification

Kakadu has traditionally been classified with the Gunwinyguan languages. However, it has more recently been included in a proposed Arnhem Land language family, without Umbugarla.

[edit] Phonology

[edit] Vowels

Front Back
High i iː u uː
Mid e eː o oː
Low a aː

[edit] Consonants

Peripheral Laminal Apical
Bilabial Velar Palatal Alveolar Retroflex
Stop p k c t ʈ
Nasal m ŋ ɲ n ɳ
Lateral ʎ l ɭ
Rhotic r ɻ
Semivowel w j

[edit] References

  • Harvey, Mark (2002). A Grammar of Gaagudju. Walter de Gruyter. 

[edit] External links

Languages