Kalaw Lagaw Ya - Dialects

Dialects

There are four main dialects, two of which are on probably the verge of extinction, one (Kawalgau Ya) through convergence to the neighbouring Kalaw Lagaw Ya. Within the dialects there are two or more subdialects. The average mutual intelligibility rate is around 97%.

• Northern dialect : Kalau Kawau Ya - Saibai (Saibai Village and Aith, also Bamaga/Seisia on Cape York), Dœwan (Dauan), Bœigu (Boigu)
• Western dialect : Kalaw Lagaw Ya - Mabuyag (Mabuiag) and Badhu (Badu)
• Eastern dialect (Central Island dialect) : Kulkalgau Ya - Yama, Waraber, Puruma, Masig and associated islands, now uninhabited, such as Nagi and Gebar
• Southern Dialect (South-West Islands) : Kaiwaligau Ya - Muralag, Nœrupai (alt. Nurupai, Ngœrupai, Ngurupai) and the other islands of the Thursday Island group, Mua (alt. Moa), Muri (Mt Adolphus - now uninhabited); Muwalgau Ya / Italgau Ya - Mua. Now converging with Kalaw Lagaw Ya.

The Southern dialect has certain characteristics that link it closely to the northern dialect, and folk history dealing with the Muralag group and Mua reflects this, in that the ancestors of the Kowrareg (the Hiamo) originally came from Dharu (Daru, to the north east of Torres Strait) - and who had previously settled on Dharu from Yama in Central Torres Strait .

Samples of the dialects

When Mum went home, she gave Dad the knife.

Kalau Kawau Ya: Ama na' lagapa uzarima nanga, nadh Babalpa gi manu .

Kalaw Lagaw Ya: Ama na mudhaka uzarima na, nadh Babanika gi manu.

Kulkalgau Ya: Ama na' mudhaka uzarima/uzarimò na, nadh Babanika gi manu.

Kaiwalgau Ya-Mualgau Ya: Ama na' lagapa/mudhapa/mudhaka uzarima na, nadha Babanipa/Babanika gi manul/manu.

(Old Kawalgau Ya (Kowrareg): *Ama na' lagapa/mudhapa uzarrima nanga, nadhu Babanipa giri manulai.)

and... simplified Kalaw Lagaw Ya

Ama na' kulai mudh ka uzari, nadh Baban ka gi mani.

Underlying form:

Ama+0 nanga (kul+lai) laga/mudha+pa/ka uzara+i+0+ma nanga,

Mum+NOM REFERENCE (before+LOC) place/shelter+DAT go+ACTIVE+SINGULAR+ACTIVE TODAY PAST REFERENCE

na+dh Baba+ni+pa/ka gi/upi/thurika+0 ma+0+0+nu.

she+INSTRUMENTAL Dad+LINK+DAT knife+ACC give+ATTAINATIVE+SINGULAR+ATTAINATIVE TODAY PAST

(gi knife, tusk, canine tooth, upi knife made from bamboo, thurik cutting tool)

They cut down a big tree earlier today to make a canoe.

Kalau Kawau Ya: Thana kœi puy pathanu gulpa aymœipa.

Kalaw Lagaw Ya: Thana kœi puuyi pathanu gulka ayimka.

Kulkalgau Ya: Thana kœi puy pathanu gulka aymœika.

Kaiwaligau Ya/Muwalgau Ya: Thana kœi puy pathanu gulpa aymaipa.

(Old Kawalgau Ya (Kowrareg): *Thana kœi puuri pathanulai gulpa ayimaripa.)

and... simplified Kalaw Lagaw Ya

Thana kulai kœi puy pathai gulka aymaik.

Underlying form:

Thana+0 (kul+lai) kœi puuRi+0 patha+0+0+nu gul+ka/pa ayima+i+ka/pa.

TheyPL+NOM (before+LOC) big tree+ACC chop+ATT+SING+TodayPast canoe+DAT make+VN+Dat

Some isolect markers of the four dialects of Kalaw Lagaw Ya.