 | This article should specify the language of its non-English content, using {{lang}}, {{transliteration}} for transliterated languages, and {{IPA}} for phonetic transcriptions, with an appropriate ISO 639 code. Wikipedia's multilingual support templates may also be used - notably nha for Nhanda. (October 2024) |
| Nhanda | |
|---|---|
| Nanda, Nhanta, Nhandi | |
| Native to | Australia |
| Region | Geraldton to Shark Bay area of Western Australia |
| Ethnicity | Nhanda |
| Extinct | by 1975[1] |
| Revival | 11-50 (2018-19)[1] |
Pama–Nyungan
| |
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | nha |
| Glottolog | nhan1238 |
| AIATSIS[2] | W14 |
| ELP | Nhanta |
Nhanda, also rendered Nanda, Nhanta and Nhandi, is an Australian Aboriginal language from the Midwest region of Western Australia, between Geraldton and the Murchison River, from the coast to about 20 kilometres (12 miles) inland. The language is now spoken, or semi-spoken, by only a few people.
The AIATSIS Austlang database says: "According to [Juliette] Blevins (2001:3) three dialects of Nhanda can be identified: Nhanda, the northernmost dialect, Watchandi W13, the central dialect, and Amangu W12, the southern dialect. Thus Nhanda is both a language name and a dialect name". No speakers are listed in successive tallies since 1975, but the Irra Wangga Language Centre (formerly Yamaji Language Centre) has been working on its revival, originally led by Blevins.[1] Nanakarti was apparently a distinct language.
While Nhanda is usually considered a member of the Kartu branch of the Pama–Nyungan family,[3] distinctive features of Nhanda, relative to neighbouring languages have caused some linguists to question this classification,[4][5] and/or classify Nhanda as an isolate.
A controversial hypothesis, first raised by historian Rupert Gerritsen, suggests that the unusual features of Nhanda may result from undocumented language contact during the early modern era, with Dutch – in the form of shipwrecked seafarers stranded in Australia before European settlement had officially begun.[6] Gerritsen's hypothesis has been rejected by linguist Juliette Blevins,[7] an authority on Nhanda. Gerritsen critiqued the rejection of his views by Blevins in a subsequent paper, re-outlining his evidence of Dutch influence on Nhanda.[8]
- ^ a b c "W14: Nhanda / Nanda^". Austlang. AIATSIS. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
- ^ W14 Nhanda at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
- ^ Bowern, Claire. 2011. "How Many Languages Were Spoken in Australia?", Anggarrgoon: Australian languages on the web, December 23, 2011 (corrected February 6, 2012)
- ^ Blevins, Juliette (December 1999). "Nhanta and its position within Pama–Nyungan". Oceanic Linguistics. 38 (2). University of Hawai'i Press: 297–320. doi:10.2307/3623295. JSTOR 3623295.
- ^ Bowern & Koch (2004) Australian Languages: Classification and the Comparative Method
- ^ Gerristen, Rupert (1994). And their ghosts may be heard. Fremantle: Fremantle Arts Centre Press.
- ^ Blevins, Juliette (1998). "A Dutch influence on Nhanda? Wanyjidaga innga!". Journal of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies: 43–46.
- ^ Dutch influence on Nhanda