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Dyirbal and Yidiny (was RE: "Usefull languages")

From:The Gray Wizard <dbell@...>
Date:Thursday, February 14, 2002, 12:26
> From: Herman Miller > > Dyirbal or Yidiny, if I can ever find either of those books. These are > Australian languages that were documented by R. M. W. Dixon, and quite > different from typical European languages in all respects.
These are indeed difficult to find. I am lucky enough to have both, although I searched for the Yidiny grammar for over six months before discovering a copy in an obscure bookshop in Australia. Both cane be found through "Out-of-Print" book finders on the net. It just takes some patience. The Dyirbal Grammar ("The Dyirbal Language of North Queensland" - R.M.W. Dixon) had a significant influence on the development of my conlang amman iar, but the Yidiny text ("A Grammar of Yidiny" - R.M.W. Dixon ) is better organized. If you can find the latter, I recommend it as an excellent introduction to ergativity and Australian languages in general. Stay curious, David David E. Bell The Gray Wizard dbell@graywizard.net www.graywizard.net AIM: GraWzrd Wisdom begins in wonder.