Warrungu
Encyclopedia
Warrungu 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; thanks to their efforts, the language is beginning to be revived.
One of the notable feature of the language is its syntactic
ergativity
.
Australian Aboriginal languages
The Australian Aboriginal languages comprise several language families and isolates native to the Australian Aborigines of Australia and a few nearby islands, but by convention excluding the languages of Tasmania and the Torres Strait Islanders...
, one of the dozen languages of the Maric
Maric languages
Maran or Maric is a branch of the Pama–Nyungan family of Australian languages, one accepted by Dixon. Maric languages are:Maran or Maric is a branch of the Pama–Nyungan family of Australian languages, one accepted by Dixon. Maric languages are:Maran or Maric is a branch of the Pama–Nyungan family...
branch of the Pama–Nyungan family. It was formerly spoken in the area around Townsville, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Its last native speaker was Alf Palmer
Alf Palmer
Alf Palmer , or Jinbilnggay in his native language, was the last native speaker of the Australian aboriginal language Warrungu. He lived in Townsville, Queensland, Australia....
, who died in 1981.
Before his death, linguists Tasaku Tsunoda and Dr. Peter Sutton
Peter Sutton
Peter Sutton FASSA is an Australian social anthropologist and linguist who has, over a period of almost 40 years , significantly contributed to: recording Australian Aboriginal languages; promoting Australian Aboriginal art; mapping Australian Aboriginal cultural landscapes; and increasing...
worked together with Palmer to preserve the language; thanks to their efforts, the language is beginning to be revived.
One of the notable feature of the language is its syntactic
Syntax
In linguistics, syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing phrases and sentences in natural languages....
ergativity
Ergative-absolutive language
An ergative–absolutive language is a language that treats the argument of an intransitive verb like the object of a transitive verb, but differently from the agent of a transitive verb.-Ergative vs...
.
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)