A Grammar and Lexicon of Yintyingka

This book offers an in-depth analysis of Yintyingka, a now-extinct Pama-Nyungan language from Cape York Peninsula, utilizing archival materials and fieldwork to explore its social context and historical significance.

A Grammar and Lexicon of Yintyingka offers an in-depth exploration of Yintyingka, a Pama-Nyungan language native to the Cape York Peninsula in Australia. Although Yintyingka is no longer actively spoken, the authors meticulously compile and analyze archival materials spanning from the 1920s to the 1990s. This extensive research draws upon both historical documents and the authors' fieldwork experiences with neighboring languages, providing a comprehensive understanding of Yintyingka's structure and usage.

The book emphasizes the importance of the social context in which Yintyingka was used, highlighting how language interacts with culture and community. Through historical-comparative analysis, the authors situate Yintyingka within the broader framework of Pama-Nyungan languages, shedding light on its unique features and connections to other languages in the region. This approach not only enriches the linguistic profile of Yintyingka but also acknowledges the cultural significance of language preservation.

In addition to its linguistic insights, the book details the methodologies employed in analyzing the archival materials. By outlining their research techniques, the authors provide a valuable resource for linguists and researchers interested in language documentation and revitalization efforts. A Grammar and Lexicon of Yintyingka stands as a significant contribution to the study of Australian indigenous languages, offering both a detailed grammatical description and a reflection on the broader implications of language loss and preservation.