Tiwi
Iwaidjan or unclassified
Tiwi is a language isolate of the Tiwi Islands (Bathurst and Melville) off the Northern Territory coast of Australia. Its grammatical complexity — extensive incorporation, polysynthesis, and elaborate gender — and its isolation from other Australian languages have made its precise classification uncertain; it is no longer considered Pama-Nyungan. Modern Tiwi differs significantly from Traditional Tiwi (the deep ceremonial register), reflecting rapid postcontact change.
Where it is spoken
20 core words in Tiwi
Water
kukuni
/kukuni/
Fire
yikwani
/jikwani/
Sun
pumarli
/pumaɭi/
Moon
japarra
/japaɾa/
Mother
ngiya
/ŋija/
Father
rringani
/ɾiŋani/
Eat
ngarini
/ŋaɾini/
Drink
pirninkili
/piɾninkili/
Love
payinti
/pajinti/
Heart
miringa
/miɾiŋa/
Tree
pirntali
/piɾntali/
House
pumpuni
/pumpuni/
Dog
marlapwawa
/maɭapʷawa/
Cat
pussycat
/pusikat/
Hand
punga
/puŋa/
Eye
pwoja
/pʷodʒa/
Hello
ngirramini
/ŋiɾamini/
Thank you
wuta-wani
/wutawani/
One
kanyili
/kaɲili/
Good
kwati
/kʷati/
Words compared
Compared with related Iwaidjan or unclassified languages
| Meaning | Tiwi | Pitjantjatjara | Pintupi-Luritja | Banjar | Olkol | Mussau-Emira | Hiri Motu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | kukuni /kukuni/ | kapi /kapi/ | kapi /kapi/ | banyu /baɲu/ | kupa /kupa/ | eai /eai/ | ranu /ɾanu/ |
| Fire | yikwani /jikwani/ | waru /waɻu/ | waru /waɻu/ | api /api/ | paral /paɻal/ | kapok /kapok/ | lahi /lahi/ |
| Sun | pumarli /pumaɭi/ | tjintu /cintu/ | tjintu /cintu/ | matahari /matahari/ | naŋkari /naŋkaɻi/ | ariu /aɾiu/ | dina /dina/ |
| Moon | japarra /japaɾa/ | pira /piɻa/ | pira /piɻa/ | bulan /bulan/ | kakal /kakal/ | malam /malam/ | hua /hua/ |
| Mother | ngiya /ŋija/ | ngunytju /ŋuɲcu/ | ngunytju /ŋuɲcu/ | uma /uma/ | ngangi /ŋaŋi/ | nia /nia/ | sina /sina/ |
| Father | rringani /ɾiŋani/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | abah /abah/ | kaba /kaba/ | tama /tama/ | tama /tama/ |
| Eat | ngarini /ŋaɾini/ | ngalkuni /ŋalkuni/ | ngalkuni /ŋalkuni/ | makan /makan/ | ngarinya /ŋaɻiɲa/ | anu /anu/ | ania /ania/ |
| Drink | pirninkili /piɾninkili/ | tjikini /cikini/ | tjikini /cikini/ | nginum /ŋinum/ | kupa nyaa /kupa ɲaː/ | inum /inum/ | inua /inua/ |
| Love | payinti /pajinti/ | mukulya /mukuʎa/ | mukulya /mukuʎa/ | sayang /sajaŋ/ | kanyji /kaɲɟi/ | talimi /talimi/ | lalokau /lalokau/ |
| Heart | miringa /miɾiŋa/ | kurunpa /kuɻunpa/ | kurunpa /kuɻunpa/ | ati /ati/ | piku /piku/ | lalota /lalota/ | kudouna /kudouna/ |
| Tree | pirntali /piɾntali/ | punu /punu/ | punu /punu/ | batang /bataŋ/ | warray /waɾaj/ | rikei /ɾikei/ | au /au/ |
| House | pumpuni /pumpuni/ | ngura /ŋuɻa/ | ngura /ŋuɻa/ | rumah /rumah/ | mariŋ /maɻiŋ/ | ulemi /ulemi/ | ruma /ɾuma/ |
| Dog | marlapwawa /maɭapʷawa/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | anjing /andʒiŋ/ | kunpa /kunpa/ | kovur /kovuɾ/ | sisia /sisia/ |
| Cat | pussycat /pusikat/ | pusi /pusi/ | pusi /pusi/ | pusa /pusa/ | paka /paka/ | busi /busi/ | pusi /pusi/ |
| Hand | punga /puŋa/ | mara /maɻa/ | mara /maɻa/ | tangan /taŋan/ | mara /maɻa/ | lima /lima/ | imana /imana/ |
| Eye | pwoja /pʷodʒa/ | kuru /kuɻu/ | kuru /kuɻu/ | mata /mata/ | mil /mil/ | mata /mata/ | matana /matana/ |
| Hello | ngirramini /ŋiɾamini/ | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | salam /salam/ | palya /paʎa/ | emua /emua/ | namona /namona/ |
| Thank you | wuta-wani /wutawani/ | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | tarima kasih /tarima kasih/ | marlu /maɻlu/ | poasi /poasi/ | tanikiu /tanikiu/ |
| One | kanyili /kaɲili/ | kutju /kucu/ | kutju /kucu/ | asa /asa/ | kuyu /kuju/ | esa /esa/ | ta /ta/ |
| Good | kwati /kʷati/ | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | bagus /baɡus/ | palya /paʎa/ | rop /ɾop/ | namo /namo/ |
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