Ngiyampaa language

Critically endangered Pama–Nyungan language of New South Wales, Australia

Ngiyampaa/Ngiyambaa
Native to	Australia
Region	New South Wales
Ethnicity	Ngiyambaa (Wangaaypuwan, Wayilwan)
Native speakers	11-50 (2018-2019)^[1]
Language family	Pama–Nyungan Wiradhuric Ngiyampaa/Ngiyambaa
Dialects	Wangaaybuwan Wayilwan (Wailwan)
Language codes
ISO 639-3	`wyb`
Glottolog	`wang1291`
AIATSIS^[1]	`D22` Ngiyampaa / Ngempa, `D20` Wayilwan, `D18` Wangaaypuwan
ELP	Ngiyambaa
Ngiyambaa is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger

The Ngiyampaa language, also spelt Ngiyambaa, Ngempa, Ngemba and other variants, is a Pama–Nyungan language of the Wiradhuric subgroup. It was the traditional language of the Wangaaypuwan and Wayilwan peoples of New South Wales.

Speakers and status

Ngiyampaa was the traditional language of the Wangaaypuwan and Wayilwan peoples of New South Wales, Australia, but is now moribund.

According to Tamsin Donaldson (1980) there are two dialects of Ngiyampaa: Wangaaybuwan, spoken by the people in the south, and Wayil or Wayilwan, spoken by people in the north. They have very similar grammars.^[2]

Donaldson records that by the 1970s there were only about ten people fluent in Wangaaypuwan, and only a couple of Wayilwan speakers left.^{[citation needed]} In 2018-2019, it was estimated by one source that there were 11-50 speakers of the Ngiyambaa language.^[3]

Names

Ngiyambaa (meaning language), or Ngiyambaambuwali, was also used by the Wangaaypuwan and Wayilwan to describe themselves, whilst 'Wangaaypuwan' and 'Wayilwan' (meaning 'With Wangaay/Wayil' (for 'no') were used to distinguish both the language and the speakers from others who did not have wangaay or wayil for no.

Other names for Ngiyambaa are: Giamba, Narran, Noongaburrah, Ngampah, Ngemba, Ngeumba, Ngiamba, Ngjamba, Ngiyampaa and Ngumbarr; Wangaibon is also called Wangaaybuwan and Wongaibon, and Weilwan is also called Wailwan, Wayilwan, or Wailwun.

Their language consisted of varieties of Ngiyampaa,^[a]^[4] which was composed of two dialects, Ngiyambaa Wangaaypuwan and Wayilwan Ngiyambaa.^[5] ^[6]^[7] The Wangaaypuwan (with wangaay) people are so called because they use wangaay to say "no", as opposed to the Ngiyampaa in the Macquarie Marshes and towards Walgett, who were historically defined separately by colonial ethnographers as Wayilwan, so-called because their word for "no" was wayil.^[8]^[6] The distinction between Ngiyampaa, Wangaaypuwan, and Wayilwan traditionally drawn, and sanctioned by the classification of Norman Tindale, may rest upon a flawed assumption of marked "tribal" differences based on Ngiyampaa linguistic discriminations between internal groups or clans whose word for "no" varied.^[9]

Phonology

Consonants

	Peripheral		Laminal		Apical
	Labial	Velar	Dental	Palatal	Alveolar	Retroflex
Plosive	b ⟨b/p⟩	ɡ ⟨g/k⟩	d̪ ⟨dh/th⟩	ɟ ⟨dy/ty⟩	d ⟨d/t⟩
Nasal	m ⟨m⟩	ŋ ⟨ng⟩	n̪ ⟨nh⟩	ɲ ⟨ny⟩	n ⟨n⟩
Lateral					l ⟨l⟩
Rhotic					r ⟨rr⟩
Approximant	w ⟨w⟩			j ⟨y⟩		ɻ ⟨r⟩

Wangaaypuwan orthography uses p,t,k while Wayilwan uses b,d,g.

Vowels

	Front	Central	Back
Close	i ⟨i⟩ iː ⟨ii⟩		u ⟨u⟩ uː ⟨uu⟩
Open		a ⟨a⟩ aː ⟨aa⟩

Phonemes	Allophones
/i/, /iː/	[i], [ɪ], [iː], [ɪː]
/a/	[ä], [ə], [ʌ], [e], [ɛ], [o], [ɔ]
/u/, /uː/	[u], [ʊ], [o], [uː], [ʊː], [oː]

Notes

^ The name of the language means 'talk-world' (Donaldson 1984, p. 23)

Citations

^ ^a ^b D22 Ngiyampaa / Ngempa at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (see the info box for additional links)
^ D20
^ D22
^ Donaldson 1985, p. 126.
^ Dixon 2002, p. xxxv.
^ ^a ^b Donaldson 1984, p. 26.
^ Donaldson 1984, p. 38.
^ Beckett et al. 2003, p. 17.
^ Donaldson 1984, p. 29.

Sources

Beckett, Jeremy; Donaldson, Tamsin; Steadman, Bradley; Meredith, Steve (April 2003). Yapapunakirri Let's Track Back: The Aboriginal World Around Mount Grenfell. Office of the Registrar, Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW). ISBN 0-9581920-1-4..
Dixon, R. M. W. (2002). Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-47378-1.
Donaldson, Tamsin (1980). Ngiyambaa: The language of the Wangaaybuwan. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-22524-8. ISSN 0068-676X.
Donaldson, Tamsin (1984). "What's in a name? An etymological view of land, language and social identification from central western New South Wales" (PDF). Aboriginal History. 8 (1): 21–44.
Donaldson, Tamsin (1985). "From Speaking Ngiyampa to Speaking English". Aboriginal History. 9 (1–2): 126–147. JSTOR 24045833.
Tindale, Norman Barnett (1974). "Ngemba (NSW)". Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names. Australian National University.

Pama–Nyungan languages

Paman languages

North	Adithinngithigh Andjingith Anguthimri Arritinngithigh Awngthim Luthigh Mbiywom Ndrangith Ngkoth Uradhi
Northeast	Umpila
Wik	Ayabadhu Kugu-Muminh Pakanha Wik-Me'nh Wik-Mungkan Wik-Ngathan Wik-Ompom
Lamalamic	Lamalama Morrobolam
Yalanjic	Barrow Point Gugu Yalandyi Guugu Yimidhirr
Southwest	Koko-Bera Kok Thawa Kunjen Ogh-Undjan Kuuk Thaayorre Kuuk Yak Yir-Yoront
Norman	Kurtjar Kuthant
Thaypan	Alungul Angkula Aghu Tharrnggala Ikarranggal Takalak Thaypan
Southern	Agwamin Mbara-Yanga Mbabaram Walangama
Other	Djabugay Flinders Island Gugadj Kok Narr Mbariman-Gudhinma Umbindhamu

Eastern Pama–Nyungan

Dyirbalic	Dyirbal Nyawaygi Warrgamay Wulguru
Maric	Bidjara Biri Kingkel Warrongo
Waka–Kabic	Barunggam Dappil Gabi-Gabi Gureng Gureng Wakawaka Wuliwuli
Durubalic	Guwar Janday Nunukul Turrbal
Gumbaynggiric	Kumbainggar Yaygir
Wiradhuric	Gamilaraay Ngiyambaa Wiradjuri
Yuin–Kuric	Awabakal Darkinjung Dharug Dhanggati Ngarigo Ngunnawal Tharawal Wormi
Gippsland	Dhudhuroa Gunaikurnai Pallanganmiddang
Other	Anewan Bandjalang Kalaw Lagaw Ya Yidiny

Southern Pama–Nyungan

Yotayotic

Kulinic

Kolakngat

Kulin	Bunurong Dja Dja Wurrung Ledji-Ledji Madhi-Madhi Wadi-Wadi Wathaurong Wemba Wemba Woiwurrung–Taungurung
Drual	Bungandidj Dhauwurd Wurrung Kuurn Kopan Noot

Kartu	Badimaya Malgana Nhanda Wajarri Yinggarda
Kanyara–Mantharta	Kanyara Mantharta
Ngayarta	Jurruru Kurrama Martuthunira Ngarla Ngarluma-Kariyarra Nhuwala Nyamal Nyiyaparli Panyjima Yindjibarndi Yinhawangka
Marrngu	Karajarri Mangala Nyangumarta

Northern Pama–Nyungan

Ngumpin–Yapa	Ngarrga Ngumbin
Warumungu	Warumungu
Warluwaric	Wagaya Bularnu Yindjilandji Warluwarra Yanyuwa
Kalkatungic	Kalkatungu Yalarnnga
Mayi	Mayi-Kulan Mayi-Kutuna Ngawun

Central Pama–Nyungan

Wati	Ngardi Wanman Western Desert
Arandic	Arrernte Kaytetye Lower Arrernte
Karnic	Arabana Diyari Mithaka Ngamini Yarluyandi Ngura Pitta Pitta Wanggamala Wangka-Yutjurru Wilson River Bundhamara new Wangkumara/Garlali Yandruwandha
Other	Baagandji Bulloo River old Wangkumara/Garlali Muruwari Yardli

Other Pama–Nyungan

Yolŋu	Dhaŋu Dhuwal Djaŋu Djinba Djinaŋ Ritharrŋu Nhaŋu
Other	Barranbinja Lower Burdekin

Macro-Pama–Nyungan?

Macro-Gunwinyguan?

Maningrida	Burarra Ndjébbana Gurr-goni Nakkara
Mangarrayi-Marran	Alawa Mangarrayi Marra Warndarrang Yugul
Gunwinyguan	Jawoyn Uwinymil Waray Kunwinjku Dalabon Kunbarlang Ngalakgan Rembarrnga Ngandi Nunggubuyu Anindilyakwa
Other	Gaagudju Kungarakany Wardaman Wagiman