Dhangu-Djangu language

Dhangu (Dhaŋu, Dangu) and Djangu (Djaŋu) constitute an Australian Aboriginal language of the Yolŋu group, spoken by the Dhaŋu and Djaŋu people in Australia's Northern Territory. The varieties of the two moieties of Dhangu are (a) Wan.gurri, Lamamirri and (b) Rirratjingu, Gaalpu, Ngayimil. There are two other Djangu (Djaŋu) dialects, Warramiri and Mandatja; dhangu and djangu are the words for "this" in the various dialects. Nhangu is a closely related language.^[3]

Dhangu
Djangu
Native to	Australia
Region	Northern Territory
Ethnicity	Dhaŋu, Djaŋu
Native speakers	310 (2016 census)[1]
Language family	Pama–Nyungan Yolngu Matha Northern (Dhangu) Dhangu
Dialects	Wan.gurri Lamamirri Rirratjingu Gaalpu Ngayimil Warramiri Mandatja
Signed forms	Yolŋu Sign Language
Language codes
ISO 639-3	dhg
Glottolog	dhan1270
AIATSIS[2]	N192 Dhangu, N202 Djangu
ELP	Dhangu-Djangu

Phonology

Consonants

		Peripheral		Laminal		Apical		Glottal
		Labial	Velar	Dental	Palatal	Alveolar	Retroflex
Plosive	Fortis	p	k	t̪	c	t	ʈ	ʔ
	Lenis	b	g	d̪	ɟ	d	ɖ
Nasal		m	ŋ	n̪	ɲ	n	ɳ
Rhotic						ɾ	(ɽ)
Lateral						l	ɭ
Glide		w			j		ɻ

• /ɖ/ may also be heard as a tap [ɽ] in intervocalic positions.^[4]
• The tap /ɾ/ may also be heard as a trill [r].

Vowels

	Front	Back
High	i iː	u uː
Low	a aː

• A long vowel /uː/ may also be heard as [oː].^[5]

References

1. "Census 2016, Language spoken at home by Sex (SA2+)". stat.data.abs.gov.au. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
2. N192 Dhangu at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies  (see the info box for additional links)
3. Dixon, R. M. W. (2002). Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development. Cambridge University Press. p. xxxvi.
4. MacLellan, Marilyn (1992). A study of the Wangurri language. University of Sydney.
5. McLellan, Marilyn (2014). Djaŋu (Warramirri) Dictionary. Aboriginal Resource and Development Services Inc.