In this article, we will explore the fascinating world of Lamalama language and everything this theme has to offer. From its impact on society to its relevance today, Lamalama language is a topic that has captured the attention of millions of people around the world. Through a comprehensive analysis, we will examine the different aspects related to Lamalama language, providing our readers with a complete and enriching vision. Whether through its influence on history, its importance in popular culture, or its relevance in everyday life, Lamalama language has become an unavoidable topic of discussion, and in this article, we will delve into its complexity and meaning.
| Lamalama | |
|---|---|
| Mbarrumbathama, Mba Rumbathama | |
| Native to | Australia |
| Region | Queensland |
| Ethnicity | Lamalama |
Native speakers | 3 (2016 census)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | lby |
| Glottolog | lamu1254 |
| AIATSIS[2] | Y136 |
| ELP | Lamalama |
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]
In January 2019, the ISO database changed its reference name to Lamalama, from Lamu-Lamu.[4] As of August 2020, 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]
| Labial | Dental | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Glottal | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plosive | voiceless | p | t̪ | t | c | k | ʔ |
| voiced | b | d̪ | d | ɟ | |||
| prenasal | ᵐb | ⁿ̪d̪ | ⁿd | ᶮɟ | ᵑɡ | ||
| Nasal | m | n̪ | n | ɲ | ŋ | ||
| Fricative | ɸ | θ | r̝ | ɕ | h | ||
| Lateral | l | ||||||
| Rhotic | r | ||||||
| Approximant | w | ɹ | j | ||||
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close | i | u | |
| Open | a | ||
| Phoneme | Allophone | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| /i/ | [ɪ] | in unstressed syllables |
| [ɨ] | in stressed syllables | |
| [ʉ], [ɵ] | when following labial consonants | |
| /a/ | [ɐ] | in free variation with |
| [ə] | in unstressed syllables | |
| [æ] | when in the context of palatal sounds | |
| [ɛ] | realized within the diphthong /ia/ | |
| [ɔ] | realized within the diphthong /ua/ | |
| /u/ | [ʊ] | in unstressed positions |
Lamalama's vowels do not show contrastive length.[17] There are two diphthongs, /ia/ and /ua/.[18] /ia/ can raise to , and /ua/ can raise to .[19]