[RNLD] absolute directionals/terms in Australian languages: update

[David Valls]

Dear Dorothea,

I find the directional systems in Australian languages very interesting. 
I'm a linguist and I collaborate in a radio program in Catalonia's 
national radio where I talk about linguistics and sometimes I explain 
this kind of things to the audience. I have your summary, but where can 
I read and learn more about these directional systems?

Best,
David Valls

El 15/3/2016 a les 17:54, Dorothea Hoffmann ha escrit:
> Dear all,
>
> I’ve had great responses from many of you regarding my inquiry about 
> directional systems in Australian languages and was able to 
> considerably expand my list of languages and references. Thank you 
> very much everyone who got in touch with me!
>
> I attach a summary of the current state of the research with tables 
> indicating what absolute frames languages employ and a detailed list 
> of references.
>
> Here is a short summary:
>
>   * the list includes a total of 48 languages: 27 Pama-Nyungan and 21
>     non-Pama-Nyungan
>   * 21 languages have a */sun/compass-based system/*: 16 are
>     Pama-Nyungan (e.g. Kayardild and Wik Mugkan) and 5 are
>     non-Pama-Nyungan, e.g. Warrwa and Iwaidja
>   * 5 have a /*r*/*/iver-drainage-based system/*: all of these are
>     non-Pama-Nyungan and include, e.g. Jaminjung and Wagiman
>   * 12 have a */river-drainage- and sun/compass-based system/*: five
>     are Pama-Nyungan (e.g. Yir Yoront and Gurindji), six are
>     non-Pama-Nyungan (e.g. Gooniyandi and Dalabon) and one are certain
>     varieties of Kriol
>   * nine have */wind-based systems/*: five are Pama-Nyungan (e.g.
>     Djinang and Lardil) and four are non-Pama-Nyungan (e.g. Matngele
>     and Iwaidja)
>   * three languages have an */ocean-based system/* (all in addition to
>     wind-based systems): Pama-Nyungan Kala Lagaw Ya , and
>     non-Pama-Nyungan Maung and Iwaidja
>   * Bardi has a */tide-based system/* which changes every six hours in
>     addition to a compass/sun-based system
>   * and only Murrinhpatha appears to have */no absolute system/*
>
>
> Please feel free to comment and add to the list and references!
>
> All the best,
>
> Dorothea
>
>
>
>
>
> Dorothea Hoffmann
> Website: http://dorotheahoffmannblog.wordpress.com
> Blog: http://hoffmanndorothea.wordpress.com
> Email: hoffmann.dorothea at gmail.com <mailto:hoffmann.dorothea at gmail.com>
>
>
>
>
>
>> On Mar 3, 2016, at 4:08 PM, Dorothea Hoffmann 
>> <hoffmann.dorothea at gmail.com <mailto:hoffmann.dorothea at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>> *** apologies for cross-posting****
>>
>>
>> Dear all
>>
>>
>> I am currently working on a spatial Frames of Reference paper on 
>> Australian languages and was wondering if some of you might be able 
>> to help me with a few questions about the use of compass- and/or 
>> landmark-based directionals in Australian languages.
>>
>> This is the (very general) information I have:
>>
>> The majority of Australian languages seem to have a *compass-based 
>> system* (usually a  2 or 4-way grid (of east-west-north-south)):
>>
>>   * Guugu Yimithirr (Havilland 1993, Levinson 2003)
>>   * Warlpiri (Laughren 1978)
>>   * Kayardild (Evans 1995)
>>   * Bardi (Bowern 2012)
>>   * Arrerrnte (Wilkins, 2006)
>>   * Garrwa (Mushin 2013)
>>   * Warrwa (McGregor 2006)
>>   * Djarru/Jaru (Tsunoda 1995)
>>
>>
>> Only a few seem to solely rely on a r*iver-based (drainage) 
>> system* (upstream/upriver/downstream/downriver):
>>
>>   * Jaminjung/Ngaliwurru (Schultze-Berndt 2006)
>>   * Ngan’gityemerri (Reid 2011)
>>
>>
>> Again, quite a number of languages employ a *combination of a 
>> compass- and river-based system*:
>>
>>   * Gooniyandi (McGregor 1990)
>>   * Bunuba (Ramsey 2000)
>>   * Ngandi (Heath 1978)
>>   * Pilbara languages (including Martuthunira, Panyjima,
>>     Yindjibarndi) (Densch 1995)
>>   * Yir Yoront (Alpher 1991)
>>   * Ngarinyman(Jones 1994)
>>   * Gurindji (Meakins 2011)
>>   * Bilinarra (Meakins and Nordlinger 2014)
>>   * Wardaman (Merlan 1994)
>>
>>
>> Only few have a *wind-based system*:
>>
>>   * MalakMalak (Hoffmann)
>>   * Matngele? (Hoffmann)
>>   * Kala Lagaw Ya (Stirling 2011)
>>
>>
>> And some do *not* employ any absolute terms:
>>
>>   * Murrinh-Paths (Gaby and Singer 2014)
>>
>>
>> Do you know what systems other Australian languages are employ and do 
>> you have any references for those? Do you know of any 
>> cross-linguistics (including a world-wide sample of languages) 
>> overviews of absolute systems across languages? I have only been able 
>> to find Brown, Cecil (1983) “Where do Cardinal Direction Terms come 
>> from?” /Anthropological Linguistics/, 25(2), 121-161
>>
>>
>> Thank you so much in advance for your help!
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Dorothea
>>
>>
>>
>> Dorothea Hoffmann
>> hoffmann.dorothea at gmail.com <mailto:hoffmann.dorothea at gmail.com>
>>
>>
>>
>

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