A Grammar of Gurindji

This book offers an in-depth exploration of Gurindji, highlighting its phonological and morphological characteristics while emphasizing its significance in the study of endangered languages.

In A Grammar of Gurindji, Felicity Meakins delves into the intricacies of the Gurindji language, a member of the Pama-Nyungan family spoken in north-central Australia. Awarded the Kenneth L. Hale Award in 2021 by the Linguistic Society of America, Meakins' work is a significant contribution to the documentation of endangered languages. The book provides a comprehensive overview of Gurindji's phonology, morphology, and syntax, showcasing its unique features and structures.

Gurindji is characterized by its distinct phoneme inventory, which includes five places of articulation for stops, corresponding nasals, and a set of three vowels. Notably, the absence of fricatives and the non-distinctive voicing among stops highlight its Pama-Nyungan roots. The text also discusses a remarkable morpho-phonological process known as nasal cluster dissimilation (NCD), illustrating the complexity of the language's sound system.

As an agglutinative language, Gurindji employs a mix of dependent-marking and head-marking strategies. The book explores the ergative system of nominals and the accusative pattern of bound pronouns, as well as the verb complex that consists of inflecting verbs and coverbs. With its detailed analysis and rich examples, A Grammar of Gurindji serves as an essential resource for linguists and language enthusiasts interested in the preservation and understanding of endangered languages.