Paakantyi (Darling language)


The Darling language, or Paakantyi , is a nearly extinct Australian Aboriginal language spoken along the Darling River in New South Wales from present-day Bourke to Wentworth and including much of the back country around the Paroo River and Broken Hill. The people's and language name refers to the Paaka with the suffix -ntyi meaning 'belonging to',
The major work on the Paakantyi language has been that of linguist Luise Hercus.

Dialects

Dialects of Paakantyi include Southern Paakantyi, Kurnu, Wilyakali, and Pantyikali-Wanyiwalku, Parrintyi, Marawara. Bowern lists Gurnu/Guula as a separate language, though Hercus includes it because of its almost identical vocabulary. Dixon adds several other names, some perhaps synonyms; Bulaali may have been an alternative name for Wilyakali, but also for a different language, Maljangapa.
However; Tindale mapped the 'Rite of Circumcision' border around Wanyiwalku separating it from the rest of Paakantyi - Tindale instead groups Wanyiwalku together with Maljangapa, Wadikali & Karenggapa of the Yarli language.

Current status

The Darling language is nearly extinct, with a recent report indicating that only two people could speak the language fluently.

Phonology

Consonants

LabialDentalPalatalAlveolarRetroflexVelar
Stoppt̪ctʈk
Nasalmn̪ɲnɳŋ
Laterall̪ʎlɭ
Rhoticɾ~r
Approximantwjɻ

Vowels

FrontCentralBack
Closeɪ, iʊ, u
Openʌ, a