Rembarnga : a language of central Arnhem Land

Abstract

Rembarnga is a prefixing language without noun classification spoken in and around central Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. The traditional territory of its speakers is adjacent to that of speakers of the north eastern Arnhem Land suffixing languages (Yuulngu languages). Rembarnga has some features in common with these north eastern languages but appears to be more closely related to languages such as Ngandi, Ngalagan, Dalabon and Gunwinjgu. Rembarnga is a largely aggultinating language with rather complex verbal morphology. There is considerable use of case marking with nominals. The language is still in active use even though its speakers are widely scattered, but the number of speakers is declining. The present thesis is a description of the grammar of Rembarnga - phonology, morphology and syntax. There is a strong emphasis in the work on exemplification. In view of the descriptive aim of the thesis, the theoretical approach used as a background varies from one part of the grammar to another. Several key aspects of the grammar of Rembarnga are discussed in fuller and more theoretical detail than the rest. These include: (i) stop gemination and devoicing; (ii) glottalisation of syllables; (iii) pronominal person and number categories; (iv) incorporation of nominals into the verb complex; and (v) a generalised 'relative clause' construction. Some text material, with translations, aud a list of the Rembarnga names of some positively identified plants are given as appendices. Show more