A Grammar of Bilinarra: An Australian Aboriginal Language of the Northern Territory (Pacific Linguistics)

Felicity Meakins was awarded the Kenneth L. Hale Award 2021 by the Linguistic Society of America (LSA) for outstanding work on the documentation of endangered languages This volume provides the first comprehensive description of Bilinarra, a Pama-Nyungan language of the Victoria River District of the Northern Territory (Australia). Bilinarra is a highly endangered language with only one speaker remaining in 2012 and no child learners. The materials on which this grammatical description is based were collected by the authors over a 20 year period from the last first-language speakers of the language, most of whom have since passed away. Bilinarra is a member of the Ngumpin subgroup of Pama-Nyungan which forms a part of the Ngumpin-Yapa family, which also includes Warlpiri. It is non-configurational, with nominals commonly omitted, arguments cross-referenced by pronominal clitics and word order grammatically free and largely determined by information structure. In this grammatical description much attention is paid to its morphosyntax, including case morphology, the pronominal clitic system and complex predicates. A particular strength of the volume is the provision of sound files for example sentences, allowing the reader access to the language itself. This volume will be of interest to typologists and all with an interest in Australian languages, language endangerment and language documentation. This Volume Provides The First Comprehensive Description Of Bilinarra, A Pama-nyungan Language Of The Victoria River District Of The Northern Territory (australia). Bilinarra Is A Highly Endangered Language With Only One Speaker Remaining In 2012 And No Child Learners. The Materials On Which This Grammatical Description Is Based Were Collected By The Authors Over A 20 Year Period From The Last First-language Speakers Of The Language, Most Of Whom Have Since Passed Away. Bilinarra Is A Member Of The Ngumpin Subgroup Of Pama-nyungan Which Forms A Part Of The Ngumpin-yapa Family, Which Also Includes Warlpiri. It Is Non-configurational, With Nominals Commonly Omitted, Arguments Cross-referenced By Pronominal Clitics And Word Order Grammatically Free And Largely Determined By Information Structure. In This Grammatical Description Much Attention Is Paid To Its Morphosyntax, Including Case Morphology, The Pronominal Clitic System And Complex Predicates. A Particular Strength Of The Volume Is The Provision Of Sound Files For Example Sentences, Allowing The Reader Access To The Language Itself. Language And Its Speakers -- Phonology -- Parts Of Speech -- Nominals 1: Nouns, Case, Adnominal And Derivational Morphology -- Nominals 2: Demonstratives, Interrogatives, Directionals And Possessives -- Pronouns -- Inflecting Verbs And Coverbs -- Syntax Of Simple Sentences -- Complex Sentences -- Appendix. Felicity Meakins, Rachel Nordlinger. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 501-510) And Indexes.

Felicity Meakins was awarded the Kenneth L. Hale Award 2021
by the Linguistic Society of America (LSA) for outstanding work on the documentation of endangered languages

This volume provides the first comprehensive description of Bilinarra, a Pama-Nyungan language of the Victoria River District of the Northern Territory (Australia). Bilinarra is a highly endangered language with only one speaker remaining in 2012 and no child learners. The materials on which this grammatical description is based were collected by the authors over a 20 year period from the last first-language speakers of the language, most of whom have since passed away. Bilinarra is a member of the Ngumpin subgroup of Pama-Nyungan which forms a part of the Ngumpin-Yapa family, which also includes Warlpiri. It is non-configurational, with nominals commonly omitted, arguments cross-referenced by pronominal clitics and word order grammatically free and largely determined by information structure. In this grammatical description much attention is paid to its morphosyntax, including case morphology, the pronominal clitic system and complex predicates. A particular strength of the volume is the provision of sound files for example sentences, allowing the reader access to the language itself.

This volume is a grammatical description of Bilinarra, an endangered Australian language. This work draws on materials collected over a 20-year period from the last first-language speakers of the language, most of whom have since passed away. Detailed attention is paid to all aspects of the grammar, with all examples provided with associated sound files.