Lamalama language
The Lamalama language, also known by the clan name Mbarrumbathama (Austlang) or Mba Rumbathama, formerly known as Lamu-Lamu or Lama-Lama, is a Paman language of Queensland, Australia. Lamalama is one of four languages once spoken by the Lamalama people, the others being Morrobolam (Umbuygamu), Mbariman-Gudinhma, and Umpithamu.[3] Naming and language relationshipsIn January 2019, the ISO database changed its reference name to Lamalama, from Lamu-Lamu.[4] As of August 2020[update], Glottolog calls it Lamalama,[5] while AIATSIS' Austlang database thesaurus heading is Mbarrumbathama language.[6] Austlang says, quoting linguist Jean-Cristophe Verstraete (2018), that Lamalama, Rimanggudinhma (Mbariman-Gudhinma) and Morrobolam form a genetic subgroup of Paman known as Lamalamic, "defined by shared innovations in phonology and morphology". Within this subgroup, "Morrobolam and Lamalama form a phonologically innovative branch, while Rumanggudinhma forms a more conservative branch".[7] PhonologyConsonants
Vowels
Lamalama's vowels do not show contrastive length.[17] There are two diphthongs, /ia/ and /ua/.[18] /ia/ can raise to [iɛ], and /ua/ can raise to [uɔ].[19] Further reading
Notes
References
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