Native to Australia Glottolog darl1243 | ISO 639-3 drl | |
 | ||
Native speakers 4 (2005) to 22 (2006 census) Language family Pama–Nyungan
Yarli–Baagandji
Darling Dialects ?Gurnu (Guula)
Naualko
Baarundji
Wiljaali
Dhanggaali (Thangkaali)
Bulaali
Wanyuparlku
Pantyikali
Barrindji
Marawara (Maraura) | ||
The Darling language, or Paakantyi (Baagandji), is a nearly extinct Australian Aboriginal language spoken along the Darling River in New South Wales from present-day Bourke to Wentworth and including much of the back country around the Paroo River and Broken Hill. The people's and language name refers to the Paaka (Darling River) with the suffix -ntyi meaning 'belonging to',
Contents
The major work on the Paakantyi language has been that of linguist Luise Hercus.
Phonology
Consonants
Vowels
The sounds within the consonant combinations are italicized above. The sounds include /mp/ /nt/ /nty/ /ngk/ /nhth/, as pronounced as /mb̥/ /nd̥/ /ɲɟ̥/ /ŋg̥/ /n̪d̪~n̪ð̥/.
Dialects
Dialects of Paakantyi include Southern Paakantyi (Baagandji, Bagundji), Kurnu (Kula), Wilyakali (Wiljagali), and Pantyikali-Wanyiwalku (Wanyuparlku, Bandjigali, Baarundji), Parrintyi (Barrindji), Marawara (Maraura). Bowern (2011) lists Gurnu/Guula as a separate language, though Hercus includes it because of its almost identical vocabulary. Dixon adds several other names, some perhaps synonyms; Bulaali (Bulali) may have been an alternative name for Wilyakali, but also for a different language, Maljangapa.
However; Tindale (1940) mapped the 'Rite of Circumcision' border around Wanyiwalku seperating it from the rest of Paakantyi - Tindale instead groups Wanyiwalku together with Maljangapa, Wadikali & Karenggapa of the Yarli language.
Current status
The Darling language is nearly extinct, with a recent report indicating that only two people could speak the language fluently.