The Torres Strait Islands contain two of the more unusual examples of indigenous Australian languages. Quite a while ago, we have seen the Kala Lagaw Ya language, which I had remarked as being unusual, as it contained some sounds unusual to the Australian languages, as well as its rather low proportion of cognates with its … Continue reading Australia’s only Papuan language
Torres Strait
A look at Australia’s unusual language — Kala Lagaw Ya
The Torres Strait Islands are a group of more than 270 islands straddling the Torres Strait, which separates Australia from the island of New Guinea. On them, live about 4 500 inhabitants, according to a 2016 census. Some of them speak a language indigenous to the central and western Torres Strait Islands, although it is … Continue reading A look at Australia’s unusual language — Kala Lagaw Ya
The Language Closet 