Cardinal direction terminology in Western Desert (Wati) languages

Abstract

The paper surveys the relevant cardinal direction terminology, both stems and suffixal morphology, and compares the data both within the Western Desert (WD) dialect web, and externally, with a view to hypothesising about its origins. Comparison with surrounding languages can be made lexically, semantically, and morphologically. Morphologically, the /-rra/ suffix is notable for occurring in languages to the west, north, and east, but not to the south. Some restricted suffixes occurring only, or mainly, with cardinals, are found in Pitjantjatjarra, Yankunytjatjara and more so Martu Wangka, but even there not with the elaboration of the Ngumbin-Yapa languages to the north-east. A hypothesis is made about links between cardinals and names for social divisions in southern WD dialects. A semantic generalisation is that, unlike Ngumbin languages, the WD terminology appears not to include separate stems for ‘upstream’, ‘downstream’. The conclusion, slim as the evidence is, points to a northern origin for WD. Show more