Thalanyji language

Thalanyji
Dhalandji
Native toAustralia
EthnicityThalanyji, Yinikutira
Native speakers
6 (2005)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3dhl
Glottologdhal1245
AIATSIS[1]W26
ELPThalanyji

Thalanyji (also spelt Dhalandji, Thalanyji, and other variations) is an Australian Aboriginal language from the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is part of the Kanyara subgroup of the Pama–Nyungan language family.

It is spoken by the Thalanyji people. It is thought to be extinct; there were six speakers of Thalanyji recorded in 2004/5,[2] but none since.[3]

According to Peter Austin, Pinikura, Thalanyji, Payungu and Purdana "should probably be classified as belonging to the Kanyara subgroup".[3]

Phonology

Consonants

Peripheral Laminal Apical
Labial Velar Dental Palatal Alveolar Retroflex
Stop b ɡ ɟ d ɖ
Nasal m ŋ ɲ n ɳ
Lateral ʎ l ɭ
Rhotic r
Approximant w j ɻ

Vowels

Front Central Back
High i iː u uː
Low a aː

References

  1. ^ a b W26 Thalanyji at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  2. ^ W26 Thalanyji at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  3. ^ a b W34 Binigura/Pinikura at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre; Deak, Eleonora. 2008. Thalanyji sketch grammar : 2008. Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre. 155pp.