# Limilngan language

Limilngan, also known as Limil and Manidja (also spelt Manitja), is an extinct Aboriginal Australian language of the Top End of Australia.

## Names and ownership

The language as well as its speakers are known by three names: Limilngan, Limil and Manidja / Manitja, the latter being an exonym.
Buneidja is regarded as the same language, and the people are sometimes referred to by this name.

## Traditional lands

Limilngan was spoken in the Darwin hinterland, in the Mary River (Northern Territory) area of Kakadu.

## Phonology

Consonant sounds :
| | Peripheral | Peripheral | Laminal | Apical | Apical |
| | Labial | Velar | Palatal | Alveolar | Retroflex |
| Stop | b/p | ɡ/k | ɟ/c | d/t | ɖ/ʈ |
| Nasal | m | ŋ | ɲ | n | ɳ |
| Lateral | | | ʎ | l | ɭ |
| Rhotic | | | | ɾ | |
| Approximant | w | | j | | ɻ |
The Limilngan language uses the three vowel system; /a/, /i/, /u/. The three sounds can result in allophones as [ɑ, æ], [ɪ], and [ʊ].

## Vocabulary

Limilngan plant and animal names:

### Animals

    English glossLimilngan animallulayi bandicooturugalitjbagi cattlebulikgi dingodimarrkginyan dogngiliyi dugonganmat dumuligan echidnamumuligan mamban flying fox (black)mumalingan flying fox (red)lumarninyan damban horsenandu kangarooanmat dumuligan mouseliyil native catdirdatj native catgitjbi damban old man kangaroomadlingi minyayan possumlulikbi dinyayan sugar glidermarnijurrkgurrk tree ratluwarli wallaby (agile)bungal minyayan wallaby (short-eared rock)itbilinyngan wallaroo (black)lunybim black-headed pythoniwirli black whipsnakelamurr blue tongue lizardmimiluk minyayan Burton's legless lizardlaminy dagiyan carpet snakeirrun damban crocodilelatdinyayan death adderiyatdururr file snakebitjjurnurnu freshwater crocodilelinan dirrinyan frill-necked lizardlam goanna sp.mirtbinalk mamban goanna sp.birnirriny goannalimiji damban golden tree snakelagun keelback snakelimin biyal king brown snakealinyman dinyayan lizard sp.badambip lizard sp.lanay lizard sp.liminalk lizard sp.minyim binyayan long-necked turtlelulayk MacLeay's water snake (Pseudoferania polylepis)layi olive pythonlumuwat dumuligan short-necked turtlelamuk dikbugan skinkimin mirlarli slaty-grey snake (Stegonotus cucullatus)lambirli turtle legmilingbi water goannangugun dagiyan water snakelambugay western brown snakeiyaturu bird sp.jitbulkbulk bird sp.luwutjgi bitternnawarral black cockatoolurrilmal black kitelimin binal brolgalurrilyarr bustarddumugarnyi butcherbirdminbulungbulung comb-crested jacanaliyiny cormorant (large species)lumuwulkbarl crowlagurr curlewgirriluk ~ limiluk darteriminy doveguluduk eagle (white-bellied sea)imbinyman eagle (wedge-tailed)malungan eggumunngayan egretlurliny emulangitj featherlumulkban flycatcherwijit galahbilarrkbilarrk gooselamay jabirularryal jungle fowllarnmingi dinyayan kookaburralirrgi long-tailed finchmawitjbitj magpiejilalarr magpie-larkliwitjbut masked lapwingbarrapbarrap mopokegumitgumitgan native henbibarrk owlmukmuk ilamirl parrot (red-winged)miyilarrk pelicanmarninyi mambirri pheasantmambarr birrinyan pigeon (Torresian imperial)lalkgi plovergurlawirtwirt pygmy gooselaliny quailligi rainbow bee-eatermalarr ternlarnung dirrinyngan ~ liwirarr dinyayan whistling duck (plumed)laminyanbarr whistling duck (wandering)danyarnngi whistling kitelimarrambi white cockatooditjgan white-throated grasswrenlamugarn willy wagtailjigirritj-jigirritj winglarnung barramundidiyan diminyan black breamluwitjbarl catfishgurdumardi crabmakbangi dinyayan crabmakbangi majan eelimilung dajan fishiwan frog sp.bagartbagart garfishjukjuk ilamirl longbamwugul-wugul mangrove oysterulikbily manta raylanginyngan mermaidmarung mulletilyiwin muluman musselliyinmungi oysterlumbangmam prawnlilkgany sea snakeumalikgan sharkarli shellfish sp.galpbangarruk stingraymumburarr ant sp.darnman anthillayirri blowflyluwunbun bull antluralkgalk butterflymambirri centipedelurluk dragon flyliwijul fleamanum birrinyan flylalykgi green antgirralpbung grublimiyuk hornetuwurnitj leechlugi little flyluwutjgi louselimbi louse eggmiyimbi mangrove wormdirrinyngangan marchflylalk mosquitolanbayk sandflymimilanitj scorpionlurngun snaillirrul tickmirtbinalk waspmalinyngan

### Plants

    English glossLimilngan bamboomirnalitj Banksia dentatamambirram banyonminukban billy goat plumlayi black currant treemanguk black plummiminikgitj black wattleiwirli bush onionlagurr bush potatobawitj crab's eye vinebakgarl cycaduwarrkbi flowermimilngan grassmarniyi grass (knife)barram green plumilidamban Grewia retusifoliamagangurl Haemodorum coccineumwilwil ilam ironwoodmarral ironwood waxnguwuk leafluwutjgi lily (grass)minumbirr lily (red)uwukgi damban lily bulb (white)minayuk lily flower (white)manyal lily stem (white)ulikbily lily tuber (white)mingililuk dense tree covermiyimil milkwoodmimilugutj palm speciesdilimin langan palm speciesmulpbay pandanus nutlangitj Pandanus spiralisliyarr paperbarkagal Persoonia falcatalatjji Phragmiteslamitj pig tucker treelaliny red applemamun birritj ~ mamun burrnginy rootmadlingi scrublalagan seaweedmalngi stringybarklinngulitj tea treeagi-agi treebangi unidentified plant speciesmiyingal white applelalykgi damban white cedarliwirnal white gumlimin balyi wild bananalanginyngan wild peanut treeimiligarnmi woollybuttmuwurn ditjgan yam (long)limbi yam (round)mirnngayal yam (water)darndamban

## Footnotes

* ↑ There are several plants called tea tree, and it is unclear which this one was.