Warrungu language
| Warrungu | |
|---|---|
| Northern Maric | |
| Native to | Australia |
| Region | Queensland, west of Ingham and Abergowrie almost to Einasleigh. |
| Extinct |
1981 with the death of Alf Palmer |
|
Pama–Nyungan
| |
| Dialects |
Warungu
Gugu-Badhun
Gudjal (Gudjala)[1]
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 |
Either: wrg – Warungu gdc – Gugu-Badhun |
| Glottolog |
nort2757[2] |
| AIATSIS[3] |
Y133 Warungu, Y128 Gugu Badhun |
Warrungu (or Warrangu, Warrango) is an Australian Aboriginal language, one of the dozen languages of the Maric branch of the Pama–Nyungan family. It was formerly spoken in the area around Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Its last native speaker was Alf Palmer, who died in 1981.
Before his death, linguists Tasaku Tsunoda and Dr. Peter Sutton worked together with Palmer to preserve the language (Warrungu proper); thanks to their efforts, the language is beginning to be revived.
One of the notable feature of the language is its syntactic ergativity.
References
- ↑ RMW Dixon (2002), Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development, p xxxiii
- ↑ Nordhoff, Sebastian; Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2013). "Warrungu". Glottolog. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
- ↑ Warungu at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (see the info box for additional links)
External links
- Stories from Alf Palmer
- Language revitalization: revival of Warrungu (Australia) and maintenance of Maori (New Zealand)
- Warrungu (in Japanese)
- Warrungu Stories and Concordance (recorded sentences together with a transcription, an interlinear translation, and a smooth translation)
- A map of Australia showing where various languages, including Warrungu, are spoken
- World: Dying Words -- Linguists Express Concern Over Fate Of Endangered Languages (Part 1)