Ndjébbana language


The Ndjébbana language, also spelt Djeebbana and Ndjebanna and also known as Kunibidji, is a Burarran language spoken by the Gunavidji people of North-central Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia.
"Gunavidji" is an exonym used by speakers of Kunbarlang, Kunwinjku and Maung languages.

Phonology

Consonants

  • Sounds /b, ɟ, d, ɖ/ may also be heard as voiceless when in word-final position or when preceding other stop consonants. They may also occur as geminated, where they are always pronounced as .
  • /ɾ/ can be heard as either a flap or a trill.
  • /k/ can be heard as in intervocalic position or when followed by a liquid sound.
  • /b/ can be heard as when in intervocalic position.

    Vowels

  • Vowels /ɛ, a, ɔ, ʊ/ may have a vowel off-glide heard as , when preceding a laminal-palatal consonant.
Phoneme/SoundAllophonesNotes
Is heard when in lax or unstressed positions.
Can also be heard when before a laminal-palatal consonant or a semivowel.
May also be heard when following a laminal-palatal consonant.
Can also be heard when in stressed positions.
Is always heard when in word-final position.