# Waanyi language

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Extinct Australian Aboriginal language

Not to be confused with [Wanzi language](/source/Wanzi_language) or [Vwanji language](/source/Vwanji_language).

Wanyi Waanji Native to Australia Region Northern Territory, Queensland Ethnicity Waanyi Native speakers 16 (2016)[1] Language family Garrwan Wanyi Language codes ISO 639-3 wny Glottolog wany1247 AIATSIS[1] G23 ELP Waanyi

**Waanyi**, also spelt **Wanyi**, **Wanji** or **Waanji**, is an endangered [Australian Aboriginal language](/source/Australian_Aboriginal_languages) spoken by the [Waanyi](/source/Waanyi) people of the lower gulf area of [Northern Queensland](/source/Northern_Queensland), Australia. Although earlier thought to be [extinct](/source/Extinct_language), as of the [2016 Australian census](/source/2016_Australian_census) there were 16 speakers of the language. This was down from the recorded peak of 40 in the [2011 Australian census](/source/2011_Australian_census).[2]

The language region includes the western parts of [Lawn Hill Creek](/source/Lawn_Hill_Creek) and [Nicholson River](/source/Nicholson_River_(Queensland)), from about the boundary between the [Northern Territory](/source/Northern_Territory) and Queensland, westwards towards [Alexandria station](/source/Alexandria_Station_(Northern_Territory)), [Doomadgee](/source/Doomadgee%2C_Queensland), and Nicholson River. It includes the local government area of the [Aboriginal Shire of Doomadgee](/source/Aboriginal_Shire_of_Doomadgee).[3]

Words and phrases from this language are used by novelist [Alexis Wright](/source/Alexis_Wright) in her 2013 novel, *[The Swan Book](/source/The_Swan_Book)*.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Phonology

### Consonants

Consonants[4] Peripheral Coronal Labial Velar Apical Palatal Plosive b k d ɟ Nasal m ŋ n ɲ Lateral l ʎ Tap ɾ Glide w ɻ j

### Vowels

Vowels[4] Front Central Back High i iː u uː Low a aː

Phonemic long vowels are rare.[4]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AIATSIS_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AIATSIS_1-1) [G23](https://collection.aiatsis.gov.au/austlang/language/G23) Wanyi at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, [Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies](/source/Australian_Institute_of_Aboriginal_and_Torres_Strait_Islander_Studies)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-austlang_2-0)** ["G23: Waanyi"](https://collection.aiatsis.gov.au/austlang/language/G23). *AIATSIS Collection: AUSTLANG*. Retrieved 10 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** This Wikipedia article incorporates [CC BY 4.0](/source/CC_BY_4.0) [licensed](https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/home/copyright) text from: ["Waanyi"](https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/136). *Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map*. [State Library of Queensland](/source/State_Library_of_Queensland). Retrieved 5 February 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Breen2003_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Breen2003_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Breen2003_4-2) Breen, Gavan (2003). "Wanyi and Garrwa comparative data". In Evans, Nicholas (ed.). *The Non-Pama-Nyungan Languages of Northern Australia: comparative studies of the continent's most linguistically complex region*. Pacific Linguistics. Vol. 552. Canberra. pp. 425–462. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.15144/PL-552.425](https://doi.org/10.15144%2FPL-552.425).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

v t e Australian Aboriginal and Tasmanian languages Pama–Nyungan subgroups Southeastern Victorian P–N Lower Murray Yotayotic Gippsland Kulin Bungandidj New South Wales P–N Yuin–Kuric Dhanggati ? Anewan (Nganyaywana) ? Central New South Wales Wiradhuric Barranbinja Muruwari North Coast Durubalic Bandjalangic Gumbaynggiric Waka–Kabic Northern Western Torres Strait Kalaw Lagaw Ya Paman Northern Paman Uradhi Wik Middle Paman Umpilaic Umbindhamuic Lamalamic Umbuygamu Mbarrumbathama Southwest Paman Kuuk Thayorre Southern Paman Mbabaram Flinders Island Maric Northern Warrongo Eastern Biri Southern Bidyara–Gungabula Margany–Gunya Bindal ? Guwa–Yanda ? Guwa Yanda Kingkel ? Dharumbal ? Bayali ? Lower Burdekin ? Dyirbalic Dyirbal Warrgamay Nyawaygi Lower Burdekin ? Yimidhirr–Yalanji–Yidinic Guugu Yimidihirr Kuku Yalanji Yidiny Gulf Kalkatungic Kalkatungu Yalarnnga Mayi Central Arandic–Thura–Yura Arandic Arrernte Kaytetye Thura–Yura Wirangu Kaurna Adnyamathanha Karnic Northern (Palku) Pitta-Pitta Western Arabana–Wangkangurru Central Diyari Yandruwandha Eastern Wilson River (Wangkumara) Bulloo River (Galali) ? Yarli Paakantyi Western Yolŋu Dhaŋu–Djaŋu Ritharrŋu Nhaŋu Dhuwal–Dhuwala Djambarrpuyŋu Gupapuyŋu Djinaŋ Djinba Ganhalpuyŋu Ngarna/Warluwarric Yanyuwa Southern Ngarru Thawa Desert Nyungic Marrngu Ngumpin–Yapa Ngumpin Yapa Warumungu ? Wati South-West P–N Pilbara Ngayarda Kanyara–Mantharta Kartu–Nhanda Yinggarda ? Mirning Nyunga Tangkic Lardil (register: Damin) Kayardild Yukulta (Ganggalida, Nyangga) Minkin (Mingginda) Garrwan Garawa (Garrwa, north) Waanyi (Wanji, south) Gunindiri (Kurnindirri, southwest) Macro-Gunwinyguan ? Maningrida Burarra Gurr-goni Ndjébbana Nakkara Marran Marra Warndarang Yugul ? Alawa ? Mangarrayi ? Gunwinyguan proper Western Jawoyn (Djauan) Waray Uwinymil Central Bininj Kunwok (Kunwinjku, Gunwinggu) Kunbarlang Dalabon (Ngalkbun) Eastern Rembarrnga Ngalakgan Ngandi Nunggubuyu (Wubuy) Anindilyakwa (Enindhilyagwa) Yangmanic–Wagiman? Wardaman Wagiman Other isolates Kungarakany (Koongurrukuñ) ? Gaagudju Iwaidjan Central (Warrkbi) Iwaidja Garig–Ilgar Garig Ilgar Eastern (Goulburn Island) Maung Manangkari Southern Amurdag Marrku–Wurrugu ? Wurrugu Marrgu Darwin Region ? Gulumoerrgin (Larrakia) Limilngan–Wulna? Limilngan Wulna Umbugarlic Umbugarla Ngurmbur Bugurnidja Daly River Sprachbund Wagaydyic (Anson Bay) Batjamalh (Wadjiginy) Pungu Pungu (Kandjerramalh) Giyug ? Northern Daly Malak-Malak (Nguluk Wanggar) Tyerraty Western Daly Marri Ngarr Magati Ke Merranunggu Marrithiyel Marramaninjsji Eastern Daly Matngele (Werret/Dakayu) Kamu Southern Daly Murrinh-patha Ngan’gityemerri Mirndi Jingulu Yirram Nungali Jaminjung Ngurlun Ngarnka Wambaya Jarrakan Kija Miriwoong Gajirrawoong Bunuban Bunuba Gooniyandi Worrorran Wunambal (Northern) Ngarinyin (Eastern) Worrorra (Western) Nyulnyulan Western (Nyulnyulic) Nyulnyul Bardi Jawi Djabirr-Djabirr Nimanburru Eastern (Dyukun) Yawuru Djukun Warrwa Nyigina Ngumbarl Others Language isolates Giimbiyu Tiwi Papuan Meriam Tasmanian family-level groups Western Northwestern Tasmanian (Peerapper) Southwestern Tasmanian (Toogee) ? Northern Northern Tasmanian (Tommeginne) Port Sorell Northeastern Pyemmairre (Northeastern) Tyerrernotepanner (North Midland) Lhotsky/Blackhouse Norman Eastern Oyster Bay (Paredarerme) Little Swanport Southeast Tasmanian (Nuenonne) Bruny Island New Indigenous languages and Aboriginal Englishes Creoles Australian Kriol Roper River Kriol (Ngukurr) Bamyili Kriol (Barunga) Kimberley Kriol (Fitzroy Valley) Daly River Kriol Westside Kriol (Victoria River) Barkly Kriol Mornington Island Creole Kowanyama Creole Northeastern creoles Torres Strait Creole (Yumplatok) Cape York Creole Lockhart River Creole Napranum Creole Pidgins Port Jackson Pidgin English Broome Pearling Lugger Pidgin South Australian Pidgin English Pidgin Ngarluma Mixed languages Alyawarr English Gurindji Kriol Light Warlpiri palawa kani Modern Tiwi Wumpurrarni English (Tennant Creek) Others Neo-Nyungar Nunga English Yarrie Lingo Palm Talk Woorie Talk Cherbourg Talk Murdi Language Proto-languages Proto-Australian ? Proto-Pama–Nyungan Macro-Pama–Nyungan ? Arnhem Land ? Italics indicate individual languages

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Waanyi language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waanyi_language) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waanyi_language?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.