Pitta Pitta language

Extinct Australian Aboriginal language From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pitta Pitta (also known by several other names and spellings) is an extinct Australian Aboriginal language. It was spoken around Boulia, Queensland.[4]

Native speakers
(3 cited 1979)[1]
likely extinct
Quick facts Region, Ethnicity ...
Pitta Pitta
RegionQueensland
EthnicityPitapita, Ringaringa, Rakkaia, Karanya, Kungkalenja, Maiawali
Native speakers
(3 cited 1979)[1]
likely extinct
Dialects
  • Pitta-Pitta
  • Ringu-Ringu
  • Rakaya
  • Ngulupulu/Karanja
  • Kunkalanja
  • Mayawarli (Maiawali)[2]
Pitha Pitha Sign Language
Language codes
ISO 639-3pit – inclusive code
Individual code:
yxa  Mayawali (Maiawali)
Glottologpitt1247  Pitta Pitta
AIATSIS[3]G6 Pitta Pitta (other dialects listed from here)
ELPPitta-Pitta
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Status

In 1979, Barry J. Blake reported that Pitta Pitta was "virtually extinct", with only three speakers remaining – Ivy Nardoo of Boulia, and Ted Marshall and Linda Craigie of Mount Isa.[1] It is now considered unlikely that any speakers remain.[5]

Phonology

Vowels

More information Front, Central ...
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Consonants

Vocabulary

Below is a basic vocabulary list from Blake (1981).[6]

More information English ...
EnglishPitta-Pitta
mankarna
womanparratya
motherngamari
fatheryapiri
headkarti
eyemiyi
nosemilya
earngarra
mouthparla
tongueṯarli
toothmirlka
handmara
breastkaputyu
stomachngampa
urinepurra
faeceskuna
thighmarla
footṯina
bonepirna
bloodkimpa
dogpiyawarli
snakekaṯi
kangarookulipila
possumṯinapali
fishkupi
spiderkupu
mosquitokuṉṯi
emuwarrukatyi
eaglehawkkurriṯala
crowwakiri
sunwarlka
moontyangi
startyinpi
stonetipu
waterngapu
campngurra
firemaka
smokekuṯu
foodyaṉṯurru
meatkaṯi
standṯarrka
sitṉangka
seeṉatyi
gokarnta
getmarri
hitpiṯi
Ingantya
youinpa
onengururu
twoparrkula
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Pituri

The name pituri for the leaves chewed as a stimulant by traditional Aboriginal people has been claimed to be derived from the Pitta Pitta word pijiri.[7][8] though Walter Roth pointed out in 1897 that the word 'pituri', thus pronounced, was the term used by the neighbouring Yurlayurlanya people, and added that the Pitta Pitta people called it "tarembola".[9]

Sign language

The Pitta Pitta had well-developed a signed form of their language.[10]

References

Further reading

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