Wik languages facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wik |
|
|---|---|
| Middle Paman | |
| Ethnicity: | Wik peoples |
| Geographic distribution: |
Cape York Peninsula, Queensland |
| Linguistic classification: | Pama–Nyungan
|
| Subdivisions: |
Wik-Ngathan
Wik-Me'nh
Wik-Mungkan
Kugu-Muminh
Ayabadhu
Pakanha
|
 Wik languages (green) among other Pama–Nyungan (tan)
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The Wik languages are a group of 16 different languages. They are all spoken by the Wik peoples on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. These languages are part of a larger group called the Paman languages. A language expert named R. M. W. Dixon first suggested that these languages belong together.
Some dialects of the Kugu-Muminh language can use the word Wik- at the start, instead of Kugu-. Even though the Wik Paach language has "Wik" in its name, it is not considered one of the Wik languages.
Languages in the Wik Family
The Wik language family includes several distinct languages. Sometimes, different ways of speaking (dialects) are even counted as separate languages. Here are some of them:
- Wik-Ngathan (this includes the Wik-Ngatharr dialect)
- Wik-Me'nh
- Wik-Mungkan
- Wik-Ompoma (also known as Ambama) †
- Kugu Nganhcara (this includes the Gugu Uwanh dialect) †
- Ayabadhu †
- Pakanha †
The small dagger symbol (
) next to a language name means that the language is no longer spoken by anyone. It is extinct.
It seems that the Flinders Island language and Barrow Point language were also part of the Wik language family.
See also
In Spanish: Lenguas wik para niños
