Wik-Ngathan language

Wik-Ngathan, or Wik-Iinjtjenj (Wik-Iinychanya), is a Paman language spoken on the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland, Australia, by the Wik-Ngathan people. It is closely related to the other Wik-Ngathan language, Wik-Ngatharr and more distantly to the other Wik languages. In 1981 there were 130 speakers.[3]

Wik-Ngathan
Wik-Iinjtjenj
Native toAustralia
RegionCape York Peninsula, Queensland
EthnicityWiknatanja, Wik-Kalkan
Native speakers
3 (2016 census)[1]
Dialects
Language codes
ISO 639-3Either:
wig – Wik Ngathan
wik – Wikalkan
Glottologwikn1245  Wik-Ngathana
AIATSIS[2]Y54 Wik Ngathan, Y51 Wik Ngatharr
ELPWik-Ngathana
Wik-Ngathan is classified as Definitely Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
Coordinates: 13°52′S 141°31′E

A dictionary of Wik-Ngathan has been compiled by Peter Sutton.[4]

Phonology

Consonants
Peripheral Laminal Apical Glottal
Labial Velar Dental Palatal Alveolar
Plosive p k t̪ c t ʔ
Nasal m ŋ n̪ ɲ n
Lateral l
Tap/Trill ɾ~r
Approximant w j ɹ
  • Sounds /m, n̪, n, ŋ, l/ are heard as syllabic [m̩, n̩, n̪̩, ŋ̍, l̩] when following consonants. A schwa [ə] may also be heard between as well, and may be heard as [ʊ] within the context of bilabials and as [ɪ] within the context of palatal consonants.
  • /j/ can also be heard as [ɟ] when under extreme emphasis.
  • Nasals may also be pre-stopped when under extreme emphasis.
  • /l, n/ may be heard as pre-ploded-syllabic [ᵈl̩, ᵈn̩], when following consonants.

Vowels
Front Central Back
High i iː y yː u uː
Mid e eː o oː
Low a aː
  • The high-fronted vowel sounds /y, yː/, may vary in position to [œ, œː].[5]

References
  1. "Census 2016, Language spoken at home by Sex (SA2+)". stat.data.abs.gov.au. ABS. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  2. Y54 Wik Ngathan at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies  (see the info box for additional links)
  3. Ethnologue
  4. Sutton, Peter (1995). Wik-Ngathan Dictionary.
  5. Sutton, Peter John (1978). The Wik-Ngathana Language. Wik: Aboriginal Society, Territory and Language at Cape Keerweer, Cape York Peninsula, Australia: Brisbane: University of Queensland. pp. 234–241.
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