Thalanyji language explained

Dhalandji
States:Australia
Ethnicity:Thalanyji, Yinikutira, Binigura
Speakers:6
Date:2005
Ref:aiatsis
Familycolor:Australian
Fam1:Pama–Nyungan
Fam2:Kanyara–Mantharta
Fam3:Kanyara
Lc1:dhl
Ld1:Dhalandji
Lc2:pnv
Ld2:Pinigura
Aiatsis:W26
Aiatsisname:Thalanyji
Aiatsis2:W34
Aiatsisname2:Binigura/Pinikura
Glotto:dhal1245
Glottoname:Dhalandji
Glotto2:pini1244
Glottoname2:Pinigura
Elp2:4984
Elpname2:Pinikura

Thalanyji (also spelt Dhalandji, Thalanyji, and other variations) and Binigura /Pinikura (also spelt Pinigura, Binnigoora, and other variations) are two closely related languages from the Pilbara region of Western Australia. They are part of the Kanyara subgroup of the Pama–Nyungan language family.

They are spoken by the Thalanyji and Pinikura peoples respectively. Both languages are thought to be extinct; there were six speakers of Thalanyji recorded in 2004/5, and ten speakers of Pinikura recorded in 1975, but none since in either language.

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

Phonology

Consonants

PeripheralLaminalApical
LabialVelarDentalPalatalAlveolarRetroflex
Stopbɡɟdɖ
Nasalmŋɲnɳ
Lateralʎlɭ
Rhoticr
Approximantwjɻ

Vowels

FrontCentralBack
Highi iːu uː
Lowa aː

References

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