Tangkic languages facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tangkic |
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| Geographic distribution: |
southeastern coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Wellesley Islands |
| Linguistic classification: | Macro-Pama–Nyungan?
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| Subdivisions: | |
 Garawa and Tangkic (green). Tangkic lies along the coast.
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The Tangkic languages are a small group of Australian Aboriginal languages. They are spoken by Indigenous people in northern Australia. These languages are like a family because they are all related to each other.
The main Tangkic languages are Lardil, Kayardild, and Yukulta. Lardil is a bit different from the others. But Kayardild and Yukulta are very similar. People who speak one can often understand the other. There was also a special way of speaking Lardil called Damin.
The Minkin language is now extinct. This means no one speaks it anymore. It might have been part of the Tangkic language family too.
Words in Tangkic Languages
Scientists study language families by looking at their words. Arthur Capell was a linguist who studied these languages. In 1942, he listed some basic words from Lardil and Kayardild. You can see how some words are similar and some are different.
| English | Laːdil | Neːmarang |
|---|---|---|
| man | jugadbaɖa | bidinaŋga |
| woman | binŋin | magudaŋga |
| head | lälga | nälda |
| eye | gɔa | miːbul |
| nose | njulda | girga |
| mouth | Lämin | wara |
| tongue | djalda Lämin | djärŋana |
| wallaby | gandjin | magurag |
| crow | waːga | djaɖag |
| sun | warga | wargu |
| moon | giɖigiɽ | waldar |
| fire | njuda | ŋida |
| smoke | ḏuŋal | wadu |
| water | ŋoga | ŋogo |
| raft | wälba | wälbu |
| paddle | bilir | bilir |
| father | ganda | ganda |
| mother | ŋama | |
| sky, above | vägiri, walman | warmu |
| ground | duLga | duLga |
| wind | wanŋal | warma |
| snake | jälbur | jälbur |
| food | vɛnɛ | wulaŋ |
| ashes | bɔrbo | galar |
| sea | mäla | mala |
| whirlwind | warguḏulɛn | danamaŋ |
Images for kids
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