The Lamalama language, also known by the clan name Mbarrumbathama (Austlang) or Mba Rumbathama, formerly known as Lamu-Lamu or Lama-Lama, is a Paman language of Queensland, Australia. Lamalama is one of four languages once spoken by the Lamalama people, the others being Morrobolam (Umbuygamu), Mbariman-Gudinhma, and Umpithamu.^[3]

Naming and language relationships

In January 2019, the ISO database changed its reference name to Lamalama, from Lamu-Lamu.^[4] As of August 2020^[update], Glottolog calls it Lamalama,^[5] while AIATSIS' Austlang database thesaurus heading is Mbarrumbathama language.^[6]

Austlang says, quoting linguist Jean-Cristophe Verstraete (2018), that Lamalama, Rimanggudinhma (Mbariman-Gudhinma) and Morrobolam form a genetic subgroup of Paman known as Lamalamic, "defined by shared innovations in phonology and morphology". Within this subgroup, "Morrobolam and Lamalama form a phonologically innovative branch, while Rumanggudinhma forms a more conservative branch".^[7]

Phonology

Consonants

• Voiceless fricative sounds /ɸ, θ, ɕ, h/ are heard as voiced [β, ð, ʑ, ɦ] when in consonant clusters and in intervocalic positions.
• Fricatives /θ, ɕ/ can be heard as laminal and alveolar fricatives [s̻, s] when in word-initial position in free variation among speakers.
• /h/ can be heard as [x] when in word-initial position in free variation among speakers.
• The fricative trill /r̝/ is also heard as voiceless [r̝̥] in free variation in initial positions.
• The trill sound /r/ can be heard as voiceless [r̥] when in word-final contexts.
• Labial consonants can also be labialized [ʷ] optionally within the onset of stressed syllables, or when after high-back vowel sounds.
• Consonant lengthening [Cː] can be heard within the onset of stressed syllables.

Vowels