Yura languages
Encyclopedia
The Yura or Thura–Yura languages are a group of Australian Aboriginal languages
surrounding Spencer Gulf
and Gulf St Vincent in South Australia
, that comprise a genetic
language family
of the Pama–Nyungan family. The name Yura comes from the word for "person" in the northern languages; this is a lenited
form of the thura found in other languages, hence Thura–Yura. Similar words for "person" are found in languages outside the group, however.
–Kuyani and Barngarla, but not with the Kadli cluster (Nukunu
, Kaurna
, Ngadjuri, Narangga
). Simpson and Hercus include both and add the Wirangu
cluster (incl. Nauo
).
Australian Aboriginal languages
The Australian Aboriginal languages comprise several language families and isolates native to the Australian Aborigines of Australia and a few nearby islands, but by convention excluding the languages of Tasmania and the Torres Strait Islanders...
surrounding Spencer Gulf
Spencer Gulf
The Spencer Gulf is the westernmost of two large inlets on the southern coast of Australia, in the state of South Australia, facing the Great Australian Bight. The Gulf is 322 km long and 129 km wide at its mouth. The western shore of the Gulf is the Eyre Peninsula, while the eastern side is the...
and Gulf St Vincent in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, that comprise a genetic
Genetic relationship
In linguistics, genetic relationship is the usual term for the relationship which exists between languages that are members of the same language family. The term genealogical relationship is sometimes used to avoid confusion with the unrelated use of the term in biological genetics...
language family
Language family
A language family is a group of languages related through descent from a common ancestor, called the proto-language of that family. The term 'family' comes from the tree model of language origination in historical linguistics, which makes use of a metaphor comparing languages to people in a...
of the Pama–Nyungan family. The name Yura comes from the word for "person" in the northern languages; this is a lenited
Lenition
In linguistics, lenition is a kind of sound change that alters consonants, making them "weaker" in some way. The word lenition itself means "softening" or "weakening" . Lenition can happen both synchronically and diachronically...
form of the thura found in other languages, hence Thura–Yura. Similar words for "person" are found in languages outside the group, however.
Validity
Dixon (2002) accepts a relationship between the two Yura dialect clusters, AdnyamathanhaAdnyamathanha language
Adnyamathanha is a moribund Australian Aboriginal language. It is the traditional language of the Adnyamathanha people.The name of the witchetty grub comes from Adnyamathanha.-Names:...
–Kuyani and Barngarla, but not with the Kadli cluster (Nukunu
Nukunu language
Nukunu is a moribund Australian Aboriginal language spoken by the Nukunu people in Yorke Peninsula, South Australia.-Names:This language has been known by many names by neighboring tribes and Australianists, including:...
, Kaurna
Kaurna language
"Kaurna" is the language of the Kaurna people, an Australian aboriginal ethnic group, in South Australia. It was historically spoken on the Adelaide Plains from Crystal Brook and Clare in the north, to Cape Jervis in the south. It became extinct in the 19th century but was revived and reconstructed...
, Ngadjuri, Narangga
Narangga language
Narangga is an extinct Australian Aboriginal language formerly spoken by the Narungga people in Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. As a result of the colonisation of Australia, the Narangga language fell into disuse within several generations...
). Simpson and Hercus include both and add the Wirangu
Wirangu language
The Wirangu language is a moribund Australian Aboriginal language traditionally spoken by the Wirangu people, living on the west coast of South Australia across a region encompassing modern Ceduna and Streaky Bay, stretching west approximately to the Head of Bight and east to Lake Gairdner.The...
cluster (incl. Nauo
Nauo language
Nauo is an extinct and little-recorded Australian Aboriginal language that was spoken by the Nauo people on the southern part of the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia...
).