Arrernte language
Arrernte | |
---|---|
Region | Northern Territory, Australia |
Native speakers | 1,500[1] |
Pama-Nyungan
| |
Latin | |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-2 | aus |
ISO 639-3 | Variously:amx – Anmatjirraaly – Alyawarradg – Antekerrepenheaer – Eastern Arrernteare – Western Arrernte |
ELP | |
Arrernte (or Aranda) is a language or group of closely related languages spoken in and around Alice Springs (Mparntwe in Arrernte) in the Northern Territory, Australia. This group includes the following:
- Anmatjirra
- Alyawarr
- Ayerrerenge
- Antekerrepenhe
- Eastern Arrernte or Ikngerripenhe
- Central Arrernte or Mparntwe Arrernte
- Western Arrernte, Tyuretye Arrernte or Arrernte Alturlerenj
- Southern Arrernte or Pertame
- Lower Arrernte or Alenjerntarpe
Opinions vary as to their status as dialects or distinct languages.
Phonology
Consonants
Peripheral | Laminal | Apical | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bilabial | Velar | Uvular | Palatal | Dental | Alveolar | Retroflex | |
Stop | p pʷ | k kʷ | c cʷ | t̪ t̪ʷ | t tʷ | ʈ ʈʷ | |
Nasal | m mʷ | ŋ ŋʷ | ɲ ɲʷ | n̪ n̪ʷ | n nʷ | ɳ ɳʷ | |
Prestopped nasal | pm pmʷ | kŋ kŋʷ | cɲ cɲʷ | t̪n̪ t̪n̪ʷ | tn tnʷ | ʈɳ ʈɳʷ | |
Lateral | ʎ ʎʷ | l̪ l̪ʷ | l lʷ | ɭ ɭʷ | |||
Approximant | w | ɰ~ʁ | j jʷ | ɻ ɻʷ | |||
Tap/Trill | r rʷ |
/ɰ~ʁ/ is described as velar ([ɰ]) by Breen (2005), and as uvular ([ʁ̞]) by Henderson (2003).
Vowels
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2007) |
Front | Central | Back | |
---|---|---|---|
High | (i) | (u) | |
Mid | ə | ||
Low | a |
All dialects have at least /ə a/.
Phonotactics
The syllable structure of Arrernte is argued to be VC(C) syllable structure, with obligatory codas and no onsets.
Arrernte in schools
In most primary schools in Alice Springs, students (of all races and nationalities) are taught Arrernte (or in some cases Western Arrernte) as a compulsory language, often alongside French or Indonesian languages. Additionally, most Alice Springs High Schools give the option to study Arrernte language throughout High School as a separate subject, and it can also be learned at Centralian College as part of a TAFE course. Future plans are that it will be included as a university subject.
Arrernte in workplaces
Many Alice Springs workplaces require that employees to learn at least basic Arrernte in order to communicate effectively with the large numbers of Arrernte people (approximately 25% of Alice Springs residents speak Arrernte as their first language). Many workplaces offer learning of Arrernte as an option and will fund the course.
References
- Breen, Gavan (2001). "The wonders of Arandic phonology". In Simpson, Jane, Nash, David, Laughren, Mary, Austin, Peter & Alpher, Barry (ed.). Forty Years On: Ken Hale and Australian Languages. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. pp. 45–69.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link) - Breen, Gavan (2005). "Illustrations of the IPA: Central Arrernte". Journal of the International Phonetic Association. 35 (2): 249–254. doi:10.1017/S0025100305002185.
- Breen, Gavan (1999). "Arrernte: A Language with No Syllable Onsets". Linguistic Inquiry. 30 (1).
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suggested) (help) - Dixon, R. M. W. (2002). Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Henderson, John (1988). Topics in Eastern and Central Arrernte grammar. PhD dissertation. University of Western Australia.
- Henderson, John (1994). Eastern and Central Arrernte to English Dictionary. Alice Springs: IAD Press.
{{cite book}}
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suggested) (help) - Henderson, John (2003). "The word in Eastern/Central Arrernte". In R. M. W. Dixon and Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald (ed.). Word: A Cross-Linguistic Typology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 100–124.
- Mathews, R. H. (1907). "The Arran'da Language, Central Australia". Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. 46 (187): 322–339.
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ignored (help) - Strehlow, T. G. H. (1944). Aranda phonetics and grammar. Sydney: Oceania Monographs.
- Wilkins, David P. (1988). "Switch-reference in Mparntwe Arrernte (Aranda): form, function, and problems of identity". In Austin, P. K. (ed.). Complex sentence constructions in Australian languages. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. pp. 141–176.
- Wilkins, David P. (1989). Mparntwe Arrernte (Aranda): studies in the structure and semantics of grammar. PhD dissertation, Australian National University.
- Wilkins, David P. (1991). "The semantics, pragmatics and diachronic development of "associated motion" in Mparntwe Arrente". Buffalo Working Papers in Linguistics. 91: 207–257.
- Yallop, C. (1977). Alyawarra, an Aboriginal language of central Australia. Canberra: Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies.