Anindilyakwa

Abstract

Abstract This chapter provides an overview of Anindilyakwa, a non-Pama-Nyungan polysynthetic language spoken on Groote Eylandt and one of the few remaining ‘strong’ languages in Australia. Because of its atypical phonology and unusually rich noun classification and nominal derivation systems, Anindilyakwa has long presented a puzzle to Australian linguistics. This chapter presents a description of the complex features of Anindilyakwa, focussing on its: (i) unusual phonology without any contrastive back vowels, but with phonemic complex consonants, (ii) atypical phonotactics with a preference for open syllables, (iii) extensive noun classification system, consisting of noun classes, genders, and classifiers, (iv) very productive nominal derivational prefixes, and (v) various subordination strategies. Moreover, the chapter identifies some of the dramatic changes that Anindilyakwa phonology and morphology have undergone, showing how these innovations can be traced back to Proto-Gunwinyguan. Some of these changes are shared with Wubuy, its closest relative, and some are unique to Anindilyakwa.