Gaagudju language

Gaagudju
Spoken in Northern Territory
Extinct May 2002 when Big Bill Neidjie died
Language family
Language codes
ISO 639-3 gbu
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Gaagudju (also spelt Gagadu, Gaguju, 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

Classification

Gaagudju has traditionally been classified with the Gunwinyguan languages. However, in 1997 Nicholas Evans proposed an Arnhem Land family that includes Gaagudju.

Phonology

Vowels

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

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

References

External links

English varieties
Major indigenous
languages
Pidgins, creoles and
mixed languages
Sign languages