Ngayawung language
| Ngayawung | |
|---|---|
| Lower Riverland | |
| Region | South Australia |
| Ethnicity | Ngaiawang, Ngaralti, Nganguruku |
| Extinct | (date missing) |
| Revival | [1] |
Pama–Nyungan
| |
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | nwg |
| Glottolog | lowe1402 |
| AIATSIS[2] | S7 Ngaiawang, S4 Ngaralti, S6 Nganguruku |
Ngayawung (Ngaiawong NIGH-uh-wong[1]) is an extinct language of southern South Australia, spoken by the Ngaiawang, Ngaralti and Nganguruku people.
The name is also spelled Ngaiyau, Aiawung, Aiawong, Iawung, Nggauaiyowangko; other names are Birta, Pitta, Pieta, Peeita and Meru.
Phonology
Consonants
| Peripheral | Laminal | Apical | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labial | Velar | Dental | Palatal | Alveolar | Retroflex | |
| Plosive | p | k | t̪ | c | t | ʈ |
| Nasal | m | ŋ | ɲ | n | ɳ | |
| Rhotic | ɾ~r | ɻ | ||||
| Lateral | ʎ | l | ɭ | |||
| Approximant | w | j | ||||
Vowels
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | i iː | u uː | |
| Low | a aː |
References
- ^ a b "River's ancient language awakens after 'sleeping' for generations". ABC News. 27 February 2026. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ^ S7 Ngaiawang at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (see the info box for additional links)
- ^ Horgen, Michael (2004). The languages of the Lower Murray. LaTrobe University. pp. 45–56.