ISO 639-3 nuy AIATSIS N128 | Glottolog nung1290 | |
Region Numbulwar, Northern Territory Native speakers from 44 (2005) to 110 (2006 census)
perhaps 400 semi-speakers and L2 speakers Language family Arnhem
East Arnhem
Nunggubuyu | ||
Nunggubuyu, Wubuy or Yingkwira is an Australian Aboriginal language, the traditional language of the Nunggubuyu people. It is the primary language of the community of Numbulwar in the Northern Territory.
Contents
Classification
The classification of Nunggubuyu is "problematic". Heath (1997) postulates that Nunggubuyu is most closely related to Ngandi and Anindilyakwa. However, Evans (2003) believes that the similarities are shared retentions rather than shared innovations, and that Nunggubuyu is closest to the eastern Gunwinyguan languages.
Consonants
/n̪/ is rare. /ɾ/ may optionally be pronounced as a trill when it occurs word-initial position, which is rare.
Numbers
Nunggubuyu uses a quinary number system.
References
Nunggubuyu language Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA