Alngith dialect explained

Alngith
States:Australia
Region:Cape York Peninsula, Queensland
Ethnicity:Alngith, Winduwinda
Extinct:by 2021
Ref:[1]
Familycolor:Australian
Fam1:Pama–Nyungan
Fam2:Paman
Fam3:North Cape York
Fam4:Northern
Fam5:Anguthimri
Iso3:aid
Aiatsis:Y32
Glotto:alng1239
Glottorefname:Alngith

Alngith ([al-ngeeth]) is an extinct Paman language formerly spoken on the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland, Australia, by the Alngith people. The last known speakers survived into the 1980s.[2] Phonologically, this language variety is very similar to the related variety Linngithigh, the only difference being that this language has the process of metathesis whereas Linngithigh does not.[3]

Alngith is considered to be a dialect of Thaynakwith, a language spoken on Western Cape York in the Weipa area taking in Albatross Bay and Mission River. The traditional language area of Thaynakwith includes landscape within the local government boundaries of Weipa Town Council and the Shire of Cook.

The word Nje 'alan means 'good day'.

Phonology

The two dialects of Alngith and Linngithigh have the same sound inventory.[4]

Consonants

PeripheralLaminalApicalGlottal
BilabialVelarPalatalDentalAlveolarRetroflex
Plosivespronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
Fricativespronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
Nasalspronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
Post-trilledpronounced as /tʳ/
Vibrantpronounced as /ink/
Approximantspronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/

Vowels

FrontBack
Highpronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
Midpronounced as /ink/pronounced as /ink/
Lowpronounced as /ink/

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cultural diversity: Census. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 13 October 2022. 2021.
  2. Wurm, S. A. and S. Hattori (eds.). 1981. Language atlas of the Pacific area. Canberra: The Australian Academy of the Humanities in collaboration with the Japan Academy.
  3. Kenneth Hale, 1976, Phonological Developments in Particular Northern Paman Languages, pp.12-13
  4. Kenneth Hale, 1976, Phonological Developments in Particular Northern Paman Languages, pp.14

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