Kalkatungu (also Kalkutungu, Galgadungu, Kalkutung, Kalkadoon, or Galgaduun) is an extinct Australian Aboriginal language formerly spoken around the area of Mount Isa and Cloncurry, Queensland.[1][2]

Kalkatungu
Native toAustralia
RegionMount Isa area, Queensland
EthnicityKalkadoon people
Extinct(date missing)
Kalkutungu Sign Language
Language codes
ISO 639-3ktg
Glottologkalk1246
AIATSIS[1]G13
ELPKalkatungu
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Classification

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Apart from the closely related language, Wakabunga, Kalkatungu is sometimes grouped with Yalarnnga as the Kalkatungic (Galgadungic) branch of the Pama–Nyungan family. O'Grady et al.,[3] however, classify it as the sole member of the "Kalkatungic group" of the Pama-Nyungan family, and Dixon (2002)[4] regards Kalkatungic as an areal group.

Revival

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Emeritus Professor Barry Blake, Sheree Blackley[5] and others have revived the language based on recordings, written grammars and personal memories. Robert Ah Wing, assisted by Uncle Arthur Peterson[6] is also active in this field. Often, emphasis is placed on belonging, passing on elements of language to younger Kalkatungu.

Phonology

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Vowels

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Front Back
High i u
Low a

Consonants

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[7]

Peripheral Laminal Apical
Bilabial Velar Palatal Dental Alveolar Retroflex
Stop p k c t ʈ
Nasal m ŋ ɲ n ɳ
Lateral ʎ l ɭ
Vibrant r
Approximant w j ɻ

It is not clear if the vibrant is a trill or a tap.

Stress

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Like in English, word stress is realised in terms of loudness. Sentence stress is also organised similar to English with the first syllable in the final word of a phonological phrase getting the main stress. (tonic stress) Moreover, if there are more than two words in a phrase, the first syllable of the first word receives more stress than the non-final words.

Vocabulary

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Below is a basic vocabulary list from Blake (1981).[8]

English Kalkatungu
man yurru
woman marabai
mother mardu
father kurla
head kaṉṯa
eye miḻṯi
nose ityintyi
ear iṉṯa
mouth aṉṯa
tongue marli
tooth ardiṉḏa
hand magaṯi
breast mimi
stomach putu
urine kurkai
faeces unu
thigh nguḻṯu
foot ṯapandu
bone kunka
blood ultyi
dog ṯugu
snake ṯuat
kangaroo matyumba
possum mirramba
fish wakari
spider kubu
mosquito migara
emu udingat
eaglehawk uḻuyan
crow waagarla
sun pintyamu
moon tuṉḏal
star tyirka
stone ndia
water kuu
camp muu
fire utyan
smoke purlu
food maa
meat adi
stand nanbi
sit ini
see na-
go ingga
get mani
hit, kill ḻai
I ngai
you nyini
one ayat
two lyuwadi

Kalkatungu Sign Language

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Kendon (1988) shows that Kalkatungu also had a developed signed form of their language.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b G13 Kalkatungu at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  2. ^   This Wikipedia article incorporates text from Kalkatunga published by the State Library of Queensland under CC BY licence, accessed on 25 May 2022.
  3. ^ O'Grady G.N, Voegelen C.F, Voegelen F.M (1966) Languages of the Indo-Pacific, Fascicle six, Anthropological linguistics 8/2
  4. ^ Dixon, R. M. W. (2002). Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  5. ^ "Sheree speaking Kalkutungu and English - Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders" on YouTube
  6. ^ "Robert Ah Wing - A Kalkatungu Language Story" on YouTube
  7. ^ *Blake, B. J. (1979). A Kalkatungu grammar. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.
  8. ^ Blake, Barry J. (1981). Australian Aboriginal languages: a general introduction. London: Angus & Robertson Publishers. ISBN 0-207-14044-8.
  9. ^ Kendon, A. (1988) Sign Languages of Aboriginal Australia: Cultural, Semiotic and Communicative Perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Roth, Walter E. (1897). The expression of ideas by manual signs: a sign-language. (p. 273–301) Reprinted from Roth, W.E. Ethnological studies among the North-West-Central Queensland Aborigines. London, Queensland Agent-Generals Information Office, 1897; 71–90; Information collected from the following tribes; Pitta-Pitta, Boinji, Ulaolinya, Wonkajera, Walookera, Undekerebina, Kalkadoon, Mitakoodi, Woonamurra, Goa. Reprinted (1978) in Aboriginal sign languages of the Americas and Australia. New York: Plenum Press, vol. 2.
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