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Programme: accepted abstracts

Abstract ID: 246

Part of General Paper Session (Other abstracts in this session)

Murrinh Patha Youthspeak: The Urbanisation of a Hunter-Gatherer Language

Authors: Mansfield, John
Submitted by: Mansfield, John (University of Sydney, Australia)

Murrinh Patha, a polysynthetic language of northern Australia, has in the last 50 years undergone a radical sociolinguistic transition. Its speakers previously lived in the bush as seven separate clans of hunter-gatherers; but starting with a Catholic Mission, succeeded by the secular and fast-growing town of Wadeye, the language has rapidly become urbanised. Small bush camps have been replaced by a town of some 3000 people, and for the first time ever, young people socialise in large groups of same-age peers. Differences in clan-specific varieties of Murrinh Patha have broken down, while a distinctive youth variety has emerged. 

This paper will discuss the social circumstances that have given rise to the emergence of Murrinh Patha youthspeak, and describe its grammatical innovations with respect to the traditional language. I will argue that the case of Murrinh Patha provides a sharply delineated example of the special effect that urbanisation has on sociolinguistic structure, and consider some of the implications for social theories of language change.