Yolŋu languages
family of Australian Aboriginal languages
Yolŋu Matha (IPA: [ˈjuːlŋu ˈmat̪a]), meaning "the Yolŋu tongue", is a linguistic family that includes the languages of the Yolŋu clans, who are Aboriginal peoples of northeast Arnhem Land in northern Australia.
The family of languages includes the Dhangu-Djangu; Nhangu; Dhuwal; Ritharngu; Djinang; and Djinba languages.
Varieties
Yolŋu Matha consists of about six languages, some mutually intelligible, divided into about thirty clan varieties and perhaps twelve different dialects, each with its own Yolŋu name. Put together, in 2002 there were about 4600 speakers of Yolŋu Matha languages. Exogamy has often meant that mothers and fathers speak different languages, so that children traditionally grew up at least bilingual, and in many cases polylingual, meaning that communication was facilitated by mastery of multiple languages and dialects of Yolŋu Matha.
The linguistic situation is very complicated, given that each of the 30 or so clans also has a named language variety. Dixon (2002) distinguishes the following:
Bowern (2011) adds the varieties in parentheses as distinct languages.
Phonology
Consonants
The consonant inventory is basically the same across Yolŋu varieties, although some varieties show minor differences.
Yolŋu languages have a fortis–lenis contrast in plosive consonants. Lenis/short plosives have weak contact and intermittent voicing, while fortis/long plosives have full closure, a more powerful release burst, and no voicing.
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