The Gunwinyguan languages (Gunwinjguan, Gunwingguan), also core Gunwinyguan or Gunwinyguan proper, are a possible branch of a large language family of Australian Aboriginal languages in Arnhem Land, northern Australia. The most populous language is Kunwinjku, with some 1500 speakers.
| Gunwinyguan | |
|---|---|
| (dubious) | |
| Geographic distribution | Arnhem Land, northern Australia |
| Linguistic classification | Arnhem (Macro-Gunwinyguan)
|
| Subdivisions |
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| Glottolog | gunw1250 |
 Gunwinyguan languages (purple) and other Non-Pama–Nyungan languages (grey). Clockwise from the north, the 5 groups are Gunwinggic, Dalabon, Jala, Jawoyn + Warray, Uwinymil. The heavy black line outlines other languages sometimes included in Gunwinyguan (see Arnhem languages). | |
Gunwinyguan languages have a fortis–lenis contrast in plosive consonants. Lenis/short plosives have weak contact and intermittent voicing, while fortis/long plosives have full closure, a more powerful release burst, and no voicing.
Languages edit
The list here is based on Green (2003). However, Green believes the similarities among these languages are due to shared retentions from Proto-Arnhem, and are not indicative of an exclusive relationship between them.[1]
- Gunwinggic: Kunwinjku (Gunwinggu), Kunbarlang
- Jawoyn (Djauan)
- Dalabon (Ngalkbun)
- Jala (Rembarngic): Rembarrnga, Ngalakgan
- Warrayic: Waray, Uwinymil
Yangmanic had once been included, but has been removed from recent classifications. Various other languages appear to be related to this Gunwinyguan core. This larger family is sometimes also called Gunwinyguan, but more unambiguously Macro-Gunwinyguan or Arnhem.
References edit
- ^ Rebecca Green, 2003. "Proto-Maningrida within Proto-Arnhem: evidence from verbal inflectional suffixes." In Nicholas Evans, ed. The Non-Pama-Nyungan languages of northern Australia.
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