Western Tasmanian languages facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Western Tasmanian |
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| Ethnicity: | Northwestern and Southwestern tribes of Tasmanians |
| Geographic distribution: |
Western coast and northwestern corner of Tasmania |
| Linguistic classification: | Northern–Western Tasmanian?
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| Subdivisions: |
Northwestern (Peerapper) †
? West Point †
? Southwestern (Toogee) †
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.png) Tasmanian language families per Bowern (2012). Western Tasmanian
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Western Tasmanian refers to a group of languages once spoken by the Aboriginal people on the island of Tasmania. These languages were mainly found in the western parts of the island. Today, these languages are no longer spoken. We know about them thanks to the work of researchers like Claire Bowern, who have tried to piece together information about them.
Understanding Western Tasmanian Languages
The Western Tasmanian languages are part of the larger group of Tasmanian languages. These were the native languages spoken by the first people of Tasmania before European settlement. Sadly, most of these languages, including the Western Tasmanian ones, are now extinct. This means there are no longer any native speakers.
Where Were These Languages Spoken?
The Western Tasmanian languages were spoken along the western coast and in the northwestern corner of Tasmania. Imagine the map of Tasmania; these languages were used by different Aboriginal groups living in those specific areas.
For a long time, there was a large area in the middle of western Tasmania where no information about people or languages was found. This empty space on the map made it seem like the Western language groups were quite separate from other Tasmanian language groups. They might have only connected along small parts of the northern and southern coasts.
How Do We Know About These Languages?
It's quite hard to learn about the Western Tasmanian languages because we don't have much information about them. Experts call this "poorly attested," meaning there aren't many records or word lists left.
However, scientists use special methods, like a type of computer analysis called Bayesian phylogenetic analysis. This helps them figure out how languages might be related. This analysis suggests that two languages, called Northwestern Tasmanian and Southwestern Tasmanian, were distinct languages within the Western Tasmanian group.
Sometimes, old lists of words that don't say where they came from turn out to contain words from Western Tasmanian languages. This helps researchers learn more. While some similarities exist with languages from Northern Tasmania, these might be due to words being borrowed between groups, rather than a direct family connection.
