Linguist Finds a New Language Spoken in Australia!
In one remote Australian town, younger generation literally speak a language of their own!
"Light Warlpiri," is the name the University of Michigan linguist Carmel O'Shannessy gave to the newly formed language. It is a mix of two local dialects (Kriol, Warlpiri) and English. She disclosed the information during an interview with LiveScience.
The town, Lajamanu, is an isolated enclave. The town doesn't boast of fully paved roads, and there is one plane that delivers mail weekly. Delivery of goods is also on a weekly interval to the town's only store.
This newly found language in Australia, Walpiri, is only spoken by a few 6,000 in the region, as disclosed to the Daily Telegraph. Another recently created language in Australia, Kriol, is mainly spoken in the country's Northern region and Wester Australia as early as 1800s.
O' Shannessy believes the language may have originated from Lajamanu workers. Upon reaching their home after work, they spoke a mixture of English, Kriol, and Warlpiri. The mixture of these three language later evolved.
According to Mary Laughren, a linguist from University of Queensland, "Many of the first speakers of this language are still alive."