Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Mpakwithi dialect

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Extinct
  
(date missing)

Glottolog
  
angu1240

ISO 639-3
  
awg

AIATSIS
  
Y186*

Region
  
Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia

Language family
  
Pama–Nyungan Paman North Cape York Northern Anguthimri Mpakwithi

Mpakwithi is an extinct Australian Aboriginal dialect of Queensland.

Contents

Classification

Mpakwithi is generally regarded as a dialect of a broader Anguthimri language, which is part of the Northern Paman family.

Vowels

/ø/ is found in only one word.

Mpakwithi has the most vowels of any Australian language, with 16–17. It also is the only Australian language to have nasal vowels.

Consonants

While other Anguthimri dialects and Northern Paman languages have three fricatives, /β ð ɣ/, Mpakwithi has a fourth, /ʒ/. Its origin is uncertain. This is an extremely rare sound in Australian languages.

References

Mpakwithi dialect Wikipedia