Pakanha language

Australian Aboriginal language

Pakanha
Ayabakan
Native to	Australia
Region	Cape York Peninsula, Queensland
Ethnicity	Ayabakan
Extinct	1990s^[1] No known L1 speakers^[2]^[1]
Language family	Pama–Nyungan Paman North Cape York Wik Pakanha
Dialects	Western Ayapathu
Language codes
ISO 639-3	`pkn`
Glottolog	`paka1251`
AIATSIS^[2]	`Y64` Pakanh, `Y181` Western Ayapathu
ELP	Pakanh
Coordinates: 14°30′S 142°25′E / 14.500°S 142.417°E / -14.500; 142.417
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Pakanha (Bakanha), or Ayabakan, is a nearly extinct Paman language spoken on the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland, Australia. In 1981, there were 10 speakers of the language, originally spoken by the aboriginal Pakanha people in the central part of the Cape York Peninsula.^[3]

Phonology

Vowels

Pakanha has 5 vowel qualities:^[4]

	Short			Long
	Front	Central	Back	Front	Central	Back
Close	i ⟨i⟩		u ~ ʊ ⟨u⟩	iː ⟨ii⟩		uː ⟨uu⟩
Mid	e ~ e̞ ⟨e⟩		o ~ ɔ ⟨o⟩	ɛː ⟨ee⟩		oː ⟨oo⟩
Open		a ~ ə ⟨a⟩			aː ⟨aa⟩

Consonants

Pakanha has 15 consonants:^[4]

	Peripheral		Laminal		Apical		Glottal
	Bilabial	Velar	Palatal	Dental	Alveolar	Retroflex	Glottal
Plosive	p ⟨p⟩	k ⟨k⟩	c ⟨ch⟩	t̪ ⟨th⟩	t ⟨t⟩		ʔ ⟨'⟩
Nasal	m ⟨m⟩	ŋ ⟨ng⟩	ɲ ⟨ny⟩	n̪ ⟨nh⟩	n ⟨n⟩
Trill					r ⟨rr⟩
Approximant	w ⟨w⟩		j ⟨y⟩		l ⟨l⟩	ɻ ⟨r⟩

Vocabulary/Topical Index

The following is a sample of words from a comparative wordlist/topical index produced by Philip Hamilton.^[5] The Pakanha words are accompanied by corresponding words from the distantly related Uw Olkola and Uw Oykangand languages:

(P) = Pakanha, (Olk) = Uw Olkola, (Oyk) = Uw Oykangand.

The Body:

Body
- nhangka (P)
- idnhan (Olk, Oyk)
- elpan (Olk)
Head
- wele (P)
- eka (Olk)
- e.g. (Oyk)
Fontanel
- wele ngangka (P)
- ek ulpar (Olk)
- e.g. ulbar (Oyk)
Skull
- yenkan (P)
- ek obher (Olk)
- e.g. opher (Oyk)

In popular culture

The Pakanha word for the eastern grey kangaroo, kucha, was used as the name of a tribe on the second season of the American reality television series, Survivor in 2001.^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b Pakanha at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
^ ^a ^b Y64 Pakanh at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (see the info box for additional links)
^ Wurm and Hattori 1981
^ ^a ^b Hamilton, Philip (1998), Uw Oykangand and Uw Olkola Multimedia Dictionary, retrieved 20 January 2011 {{grapheme|
^ Hamilton, Philip (1998), Uw Oykangand and Uw Olkola Multimedia Dictionary, archived from the original on 23 March 2012, retrieved 22 February 2011
^ "Kangaroo". Archived from the original on 2012-10-17.

Pama–Nyungan languages

Paman languages

North	Adithinngithigh Andjingith Anguthimri Arritinngithigh Awngthim Luthigh Mbiywom Ndrangith Ngkoth Uradhi
Northeast	Umpila
Wik	Ayabadhu Kugu-Muminh Pakanha Wik-Me'nh Wik-Mungkan Wik-Ngathan Wik-Ompom
Lamalamic	Lamalama Morrobolam
Yalanjic	Barrow Point Gugu Yalandyi Guugu Yimidhirr
Southwest	Koko-Bera Kok Thawa Kunjen Ogh-Undjan Kuuk Thaayorre Kuuk Yak Yir-Yoront
Norman	Kurtjar Kuthant
Thaypan	Alungul Angkula Aghu Tharrnggala Ikarranggal Takalak Thaypan
Southern	Agwamin Mbara-Yanga Mbabaram Walangama
Other	Djabugay Flinders Island Gugadj Kok Narr Mbariman-Gudhinma Umbindhamu

Eastern Pama–Nyungan

Dyirbalic	Dyirbal Nyawaygi Warrgamay Wulguru
Maric	Bidjara Biri Kingkel Warrongo
Waka–Kabic	Barunggam Dappil Gabi-Gabi Gureng Gureng Wakawaka Wuliwuli
Durubalic	Guwar Janday Nunukul Turrbal
Gumbaynggiric	Kumbainggar Yaygir
Wiradhuric	Gamilaraay Ngiyambaa Wiradjuri
Yuin–Kuric	Awabakal Darkinjung Dharug Dhanggati Ngarigo Ngunnawal Tharawal Wormi
Gippsland	Dhudhuroa Gunaikurnai Pallanganmiddang
Other	Anewan Bandjalang Kalaw Lagaw Ya Yidiny

Southern Pama–Nyungan

Yotayotic

Kulinic

Kolakngat

Kulin	Bunurong Dja Dja Wurrung Ledji-Ledji Madhi-Madhi Wadi-Wadi Wathaurong Wemba Wemba Woiwurrung–Taungurung
Drual	Bungandidj Dhauwurd Wurrung Kuurn Kopan Noot

Kartu	Badimaya Malgana Nhanda Wajarri Yinggarda
Kanyara–Mantharta	Kanyara Mantharta
Ngayarta	Jurruru Kurrama Martuthunira Ngarla Ngarluma-Kariyarra Nhuwala Nyamal Nyiyaparli Panyjima Yindjibarndi Yinhawangka
Marrngu	Karajarri Mangala Nyangumarta

Northern Pama–Nyungan

Ngumpin–Yapa	Ngarrga Ngumbin
Warumungu	Warumungu
Warluwaric	Wagaya Bularnu Yindjilandji Warluwarra Yanyuwa
Kalkatungic	Kalkatungu Yalarnnga
Mayi	Mayi-Kulan Mayi-Kutuna Ngawun

Central Pama–Nyungan

Wati	Ngardi Wanman Western Desert
Arandic	Arrernte Kaytetye Lower Arrernte
Karnic	Arabana Diyari Mithaka Ngamini Yarluyandi Ngura Pitta Pitta Wanggamala Wangka-Yutjurru Wilson River Bundhamara new Wangkumara/Garlali Yandruwandha
Other	Baagandji Bulloo River old Wangkumara/Garlali Muruwari Yardli

Other Pama–Nyungan

Yolŋu	Dhaŋu Dhuwal Djaŋu Djinba Djinaŋ Ritharrŋu Nhaŋu
Other	Barranbinja Lower Burdekin

Macro-Pama–Nyungan?

Macro-Gunwinyguan?

Maningrida	Burarra Ndjébbana Gurr-goni Nakkara
Mangarrayi-Marran	Alawa Mangarrayi Marra Warndarrang Yugul
Gunwinyguan	Jawoyn Uwinymil Waray Kunwinjku Dalabon Kunbarlang Ngalakgan Rembarrnga Ngandi Nunggubuyu Anindilyakwa
Other	Gaagudju Kungarakany Wardaman Wagiman