Macro-Gunwinyguan | |||
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Arnhem | |||
Geographic distribution | northern Australia | ||
Linguistic classification | Macro-Pama–Nyungan?
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Subdivisions |
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Language codes | |||
Glottolog | gunw1250 (Gunwinyguan)mani1293 (Maningrida) mang1423 (Mangarrayi-Maran)kung1259 (Kungarakany)gaga1251 (Gaagudju) | ||
The Arnhem languages (purple), and other non-Pama–Nyungan languages (grey). Below (closeup): the individual families. | |||
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The Macro-Gunwinyguan languages, also called Arnhem or Gunwinyguan, are a family of Australian Aboriginal languages spoken across eastern Arnhem Land in northern Australia. Their relationship has been demonstrated through shared morphology in their verbal inflections.
Many of the languages have a fortis–lenis contrast in plosive consonants. Lenis/short plosives have weak contact and intermittent voicing, while fortis/long plosives have full closure, a more powerful release burst, and no voicing.[citation needed]