Ngayawung (Ngaiawong) is an extinct language of southern South Australia, spoken by the Ngaiawang, Ngaralti and Nganguruku people.

Ngayawung
Lower Riverland
RegionSouth Australia
EthnicityNgaiawang, Ngaralti, Nganguruku
Extinct(date missing)
Dialects
  • Ngayawang
  • Nganguruku
  • Ngaralti (Ngaralda)?
Language codes
ISO 639-3nwg
Glottologlowe1402
AIATSIS[1]S7 Ngaiawang, S4 Ngaralti, S6 Nganguruku

The name is also spelled Ngaiyau, Aiawung, Aiawong, Iawung, Nggauaiyowangko; other names are Birta, Pitta, Pieta, Peeita and Meru.

Phonology

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Consonants

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Peripheral Laminal Apical
Labial Velar Dental Palatal Alveolar Retroflex
Plosive p k c t ʈ
Nasal m ŋ ɲ n ɳ
Rhotic ɾ~r ɻ
Lateral ʎ l ɭ
Approximant w j

Vowels

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Front Central Back
High i iː u uː
Low a aː

[2]

References

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  1. ^ S7 Ngaiawang at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies  (see the info box for additional links)
  2. ^ Horgen, Michael (2004). The languages of the Lower Murray. LaTrobe University. pp. 45–56.