Warlpiri and its social setting

Warlpiri is spoken in a number of desert communities north-west and north of Alice Springs. It belongs to the Pama-Nyungan group of languages, which encompasses 90 per cent of the Aboriginal languages of the continent (see Walsh, this volume). It has a number of structural features typical of Pama-Nyungan languages, for example, agglutinating word formation and case-marking on nouns. Warlpiri has three distinct case-marking patterns for different transitive verbs, but the dominant case frame for transitive sentences is ergative-absolutive. Its syntax follows a nominative-accusative pattern, in that subject agreement is found with subjects regardless of their case form. It also has one of the freest word orders in the Pama-Nyungan languages; elements within complex noun phrases and non-finite clauses need not be contiguous. Like other Pama-Nyungan languages, Warlpiri has a highly developed system of pronouns and demonstratives: it distinguishes singular, dual and plural number, as well as first-person inclusive and exclusive. As is the case for some Pama-Nyungan languages, Warlpiri utilises bound pronouns that cross-reference subjects and objects. Typical of Pama-Nyungan languages, Warlpiri has few vowels and a large number of articulatory positions for consonants: there are five for oral and nasal stops and three for laterals and rhotics; it has no voiced-voiceless contrast and no fricative phonemes; words are always at least two syllables long and have primary stress on the first syllable; all words and syllables begin with a consonant.