Yir-Yoront language

Extinct Australian Aboriginal language

Yir-Yoront
Yir
Native to	Australia
Region	Cape York Peninsula, Queensland
Ethnicity	Yir-Yoront
Extinct	by 2005^[1]
Language family	Pama–Nyungan Paman Southwestern Coastal Yir-Yoront
Dialects	Yirr-Thutjim (Yir-Yoront) Yirrk-Thangalkl (Yirrk-Mel)
Signed forms	Yir Yoront Sign Language
Language codes
ISO 639-3	Either: `yyr` – Yir Yoront `yrm` – Yirrk-Mel
Glottolog	`yiry1247` `yiry1245` bookkeeping with bibliography
AIATSIS^[1]	`Y72` Yir Yoront, `Y214` Yirrk-Thangalkl
ELP	Yir-Yoront
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Yir-Yoront was a Paman language spoken in two settlements, Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw on the southwestern part of the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland in Australia, by the Yir-Yoront people. In 1991 only 15 speakers remained,^[2] with the rest of the Yir-Yoront people speaking English or even Kuuk Thaayorre as many speakers of Yir-Yoront apparently are using Kuuk Thaayorre in daily conversation.^[3] At present it is thought to be extinct.^[4] There are two sister dialects, Yir-Yoront proper and Yirrk-Thangalkl, which are very close. The shared name Yir is sometimes used for both taken together.

Names

The first part of both of the name, Yir, is from the word yirrq meaning speech or language. Following is the ethnonym.^[5]

Yir-Yoront is written hyphenated as a way of indicating that the syllable following the hyphen is stressed. In the standard orthography, it is correctly spelled Yirr-Yorront, with "rr" representing the consonant /r/. There is a valid alternative pronunciation with stress on the first syllable; this can be written YirrqYorront. Other spellings encountered include Yir Yoront and Jir Joront.

Other names for the language include:

Yirr-Thuchm: Meaning "from the sandridges"
Kok-Minychen: The name of the Yir-Yoront in the Koko-Bera language
- Koko-Minychena: Alternative spelling
- Kokomindjen: Alternative spelling
- Mandjoen: Alternative spelling
- Mind'jana: Alternative spelling
- Mundjun: Alternative spelling
- Myunduno: Alternative spelling
Kuuk-Thaanhon: The name of the Yir-Yoront in the Kuuk Thaayorre language
Gwandera: A name incorrectly applied to the Yir-Yoront people and their language
Millera: No source available

Phonology

The following description is for Yir-Yoront proper. For another dialect, see Yirrk-Thangalkl dialect.

Vowels

Yir-Yoront has 6 vowels:

	Front	Central	Back
	Unrounded	Unrounded	Rounded
Close	i		u
Close-mid	e		o
Mid		ə
Open		a

Consonants

Yir-Yoront has 20 consonants:

	Peripheral		Laminal		Apical		Glottal
	Bilabial	Velar	Postalveolar /Palatal	Dental	Alveolar	Retroflex	Glottal
Nasal	m ⟨m⟩	ŋ ⟨ng⟩	ɲ ⟨ny⟩	n̪ ⟨nh⟩	n ⟨n⟩	ɳ ⟨rn⟩
Plosive	p ⟨p⟩	k ⟨k⟩	c ⟨ch⟩	t̪ ⟨th⟩	t ⟨t⟩	ʈ ⟨rt⟩	ʔ ⟨q⟩
Tap					ɾ ⟨rr⟩
Lateral				l̪ ⟨lh⟩	l ⟨l⟩	ɭ ⟨rl⟩
Approximant	w ⟨w⟩		j ⟨y⟩			ɻ ⟨r⟩

Sign language

The Yir Yoront have (or had) a well-developed signed form of their language.^[6] It may have had some influence in the broader Far North Queensland Indigenous Sign Language, though it may have gone extinct too early for that.

External links

Paradisec has language materials for Yir Yoront as part of the Arthur Capell collection (AC1) and the Barry Alpher collection (BA1)

References

Notes

^ ^a ^b Y72 Yir Yoront at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (see the info box for additional links)
^ Ethnologue
^ Gaby, Alice Rose (2006). A Grammar of Kuuk Thaayorre. p. 6.
^ Moseley, Christopher (ed.). 2010. Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger, 3rd edn. Paris, UNESCO Publishing. Online version: http://www.unesco.org/culture/en/endangeredlanguages/atlas
^ Alpher, Barry (1991). Yir-Yoront Lexicon: Sketch and Dictionary of an Australian Language. p. 3.
^ Kendon, A. (1988) Sign Languages of Aboriginal Australia: Cultural, Semiotic and Communicative Perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

General

Alpher, Barry (1991). Yir-Yoront lexicon: Sketch and dictionary of an Australian language. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.

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