Umbugarla language


Umbugarla or Mbukarla is a possible Australian language isolate once spoken by three people in Arnhem Land, northern Australia as of 1981, and is now extinct.

Classification

Umbugarla was once considered a language isolate, but Mark Harvey has made a case for it being part of a family of Darwin Region languages.
Ngurmbur and Bugurnidja are poorly attested extinct languages, which are joined with Umbugarla to form the Umbugarlic branch.
Tryon lists the following varieties of Umbugarla–Ngumbur:
However, nothing is known of Ngunbudj or Ngarduk, which were extinct by World War II.

Phonology

Consonants

Vowels

  • Vowels can be lengthened when in open syllables or in word-final position.
PhonemeAllophones
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