Author:
Carew Margaret,Guerrero Beltran David Felipe
Abstract
Abstract
This chapter surveys the main grammatical characteristics of the Maningrida languages, a non-Pama-Nyungan language family from the Arnhem Land (Northern Territory). This region lies to the north of the Arnhem Land escarpment, east of the Liverpool River, and west of the Arafura wetland, the group consisting of Ndjébbana, Na-Kara, Gurr-goni, and Burarra/Gun-nartpa. Based on previous descriptions of these languages, we present an overview of this group in terms of genetic affiliation, phonology, nominal and verbal morphology, and syntax. Some salient features of Maningrida languages are direct vs. local case marking, multiple possession strategies, precontemporary vs. contemporary (that is, cyclic and metrical) tense systems, nominal groups, serial verb constructions, and light verb constructions. Currently, most of the Maningrida languages are severely endangered.
Publisher
Oxford University PressOxford
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