| Wiradhuric | |
|---|---|
| Central New South Wales | |
| Geographic distribution | New South Wales |
| Linguistic classification |
Pama–Nyungan
|
| Subdivisions | |
| Glottolog | wira1261 |
 Wiradhuric languages (green) among other Pama–Nyungan (tan) | |
The Wiradhuric languages or Central (Inland) New South Wales, are a family of Pama–Nyungan languages of Australia. There are three languages:
- Wiradhuric
- Gamilaraay (northeast)
All are now moribund.
Wiradhuri and Ngiyambaa appear to be more closely related to each other than to Gamilaraay, as they show some common features that Gamilaraay lacks. The languages are close enough to be accepted as related in the conservative classification of Dixon (2002). Bowern (2011) lists the Yuwaaliyaay and Yuwaalaraay varieties of Gamilaraay as separate languages. [1] Bigambal may have been another, if it wasn't one of the Banjalung languages. The Gujambal language has been listed as Wiradhuric, but is undocumented.
Comparison
| Wiradhuric | Non-Wiradhuric | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiradhuri | Ngiyambaa | Gamilaraay | Baagandji | |
| ngandhi | ngandi- | ngaana | wintyika | who? |
| minyang | minja- | minya | minha | what? |
| ngadhuu | ngadhu | ngaya | ngathu | I |
| ngali | ngalii | ngali | ngali | we two |
| ngiyani | ngiyanu / ngiyani | ngiyaani | ngina | we (pl.) |
| nginduu | ngindu | nginda | ngintu | you (sg.) |
| nginduu buula | ngindubula | ngindaali | ngupa | you two |
| nginduugirr | ngindugal | ngindaay | ngurta | you (pl.) |
See also
References
- ^ Bowern, Claire. 2011. " How Many Languages Were Spoken in Australia?", Anggarrgoon: Australian languages on the web, December 23, 2011 ( corrected February 6, 2012)
- Austin, P. K. (1997). "Proto Central New South Wales phonology". In Tryon, D. T.; Walsh, M. (eds.). Boundary rider: essays in honour of Geoffrey O'Grady. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. pp. 21–49.
- Austin, P. (1993). A Reference Dictionary of Gamilaraay, northern New South Wales. Bundoora: La Trobe University Department of Linguistics.
- Austin, P.; Williams, C.; Würm, S. A. (1980). "The linguistic situation in north central New South Wales". In Rigsby, B.; Sutton, P. (eds.). Contributions to Australian Linguistics. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. pp. 167–80.
- Dixon, R. M. W. (2002). Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-47378-1.