Australian Languages Their Nature and Development [Paperback]

Professor Dixon presents a comprehensive study of the indigenous languages of Australia.Aboriginal people have been in Australia for at least 40,000 years, speaking about 250 languages. Through examination of published and unpublished materials on each of the individual languages, Professor Dixon surveys the ways in which the languages vary typologically and presents a profile of this long-established linguistic area. The areal distribution of most features is illustrated with more than 30 maps and an index of languages and language groups is provided. Professor Dixon, a pioneering scholar in the field, brings a unique perspective to this diverse and complex material.Aboriginal people have been in Australia for at least 40,000 years, speaking about 250 languages. Through examination of published and unpublished materials on each of the individual languages, Professor Dixon surveys the ways in which the languages vary typologically and presents a profile of this long-established linguistic area. The areal distribution of most features is illustrated with more than 30 maps and an index of languages and language groups is provided. Professor Dixon, a pioneering scholar in the field, brings a unique perspective to this diverse and complex material.Aboriginal people have been in Australia for at least 40,000 years, speaking about 250 languages. Through examination of published and unpublished materials on each of the individual languages, Dixon surveys the ways in which the languages vary typologically and presents a profile of this long-established linguistic area. The areal distribution of most features is illustrated with more than 30 maps and an index of languages and language groups is provided.List of maps; List of abbreviations and conventions; Preface; Acknowledgements; Conventions followed; List of languages and language groups; 1. The language situation in Australia; 2. Modelling the language situation; 3. Overview; 4. Vocabulary; 5. Case and other nominal suffl“+