Jaminjung language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jaminjung |
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| Native to | Australia | |||
| Region | Victoria River (Northern Territory) | |||
| Native speakers | 29 (2016)e25 | |||
| Language family | ||||
| Dialects |
Ngaliwuru
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| AIATSIS | N18 Jaminjung, N19 | |||
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Jaminjung is an Aboriginal language spoken in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is spoken by a small number of people. This means it is a language that needs help to keep going.
Contents
About the Jaminjung Language
Where Jaminjung is Spoken
The Jaminjung language comes from the area around the Victoria River. This river is located in the northern part of Australia. It is a special language for the Aboriginal people of that region.
How Many People Speak Jaminjung?
The number of people who speak Jaminjung has changed over time. In 1967, only a few people spoke it. By 1991, about 30 people were speaking the language. In 2000, the number grew to between 50 and 150 speakers. This shows that efforts are being made to keep the language alive.
Sounds of Jaminjung
Every language has its own unique sounds. Jaminjung has a system of sounds that helps people understand each other. These sounds are divided into two main groups: vowels and consonants.
Vowels in Jaminjung
Jaminjung has four main vowel sounds. These are like the 'a', 'e', 'i', and 'u' sounds you might know. The length of these vowel sounds does not change the meaning of a word. One of the vowel sounds, /e/, is not very common. It might have come from other languages nearby.
Consonants in Jaminjung
Jaminjung has 18 different consonant sounds. These are sounds like 'p', 'k', 'm', and 'n'. Some of these sounds are made in different parts of the mouth. For example, some sounds use both lips, while others use the tongue and the roof of the mouth.
