Matngala language

(Redirected from Matngele language)

Matngele or Madngele is an extinct Australian Aboriginal language of the Northern Territory spoken by the Madngella and Yunggor peoples.

Matngele
RegionNorthern Territory, Australia
EthnicityMadngella, Yunggor
Extinctby 2006[1]
perhaps 1 reported 1973; perhaps 10 reported 1990
Eastern Daly
  • Matngele
Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3zml
Glottologmadn1237
AIATSIS[1]N12
ELPMatngele
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Classification

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Tryon (1974) classified Matngele with Kamu, and this is accepted by Dixon (2002) and Bowern (2011), though denied by Harvey (1990).[1]

Phonology

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Vowels

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Front Central Back
High i u
Mid e ɵ
Low a

Consonants

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Peripheral Laminal Apical
Bilabial Velar Palatal Alveolar Retroflex
Stop Voiceless p k c t
Voiced b ɡ ɟ d
Nasal m ŋ ɲ n
Lateral ʎ l
Rhotic r ɻ
Semivowel w j

Grammar

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Matngele has only five simple verbs. These must be combined with coverbs in order to form complex verbs.

References

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  1. ^ a b c N12 Matngele at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  • Dixon, R. M. W. (2002). Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Zandvoort, F. B. (1999). A grammar of Matngele. BA honours sub-thesis. Armidale: University of New England.
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