Dhalandji
Native toAustralia
EthnicityThalanyji, Yinikutira, Binigura
Native speakers
6 (2005)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3Either:
dhl – Dhalandji
pnv – Pinigura
Glottologdhal1245  Dhalandji
pini1244  Pinigura
AIATSIS[1]W26 Thalanyji, W34 Binigura/Pinikura
ELPThalanyji
 Pinikura[2]

Thalanyji (also spelt Dhalandji, Thalanyji, and other variations) and Binigura /Pinikura (also spelt Pinigura, Binnigoora, and other variations) are two closely related languages from the Pilbara region of Western Australia. They are part of the Kanyara subgroup of the Pama–Nyungan language family.

They are spoken by the Thalanyji and Pinikura peoples respectively. Both languages are thought to be extinct; there were six speakers of Thalanyji recorded in 2004/5,[3] and ten speakers of Pinikura recorded in 1975, but none since in either language.[4]

According to Peter Austin, Pinikura, Thalanyji, Payungu and Purdana "should probably be classified as belonging to the Kanyara subgroup".[4]

Phonology

Consonants

Peripheral Laminal Apical
Labial Velar Dental Palatal Alveolar Retroflex
Stop b ɡ d̪ ɟ d ɖ
Nasal m ŋ n̪ ɲ n ɳ
Lateral l̪ ʎ l ɭ
Rhotic r
Approximant w j ɻ

Vowels

Front Central Back
High i iː u uː
Low a aː

References

  1. ^ a b W26 Thalanyji at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies  (see the info box for additional links)
  2. ^ Endangered Languages Project data for Pinikura.
  3. ^ W26 Thalanyji at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  4. ^ a b W34 Binigura/Pinikura at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre; Deak, Eleonora. 2008. Thalanyji sketch grammar : 2008. Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre. 155pp.

Categories