A Dictionary of Umpithamu with notes on Middle Paman

Overview

Umpithamu is a language of the Princess Charlotte Bay region on the east coast of Cape York Peninsula, in northeastern Australia. A Dictionary of Umpithamu, with notes on Middle Paman is the first comprehensive dictionary of a Cape York language to be published in over two decades The dictionary provides detailed information about the grammar, meaning and use of Umpithamu words, generously illustrated with example sentences. All information can also be accessed through an index of English translations, organized alphabetically and thematically.For users with more specific interests, like linguists, anthropologists and biologists, the dictionary further offers phonetic transcriptions, cognates and (Middle) Paman reconstructions for most words, as well as ethnographic notes and identifications of plant and animal species.

Author Biography

Jean-Christophe Verstraete is a professor of linguistics at the University of Leuven in Belgium, with an honorary affiliation at the Australian National University.His interests include linguistic typology and the study of Australian languages, specifically in Cape York Peninsula. He has studied the Umpithamu, Umbuygamu and Lamalama languages since 2003, with Florrie Bassani, Bobby Stewart and Daisy Stewart.