The Yura or Thura-Yura languages are a group of Australian Aboriginal languages surrounding Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent in South Australia, that comprise a genetic language family of the Pama–Nyungan family. The name Yura comes from the word for "person" in the northern languages; this is a lenited form of the thura found in other languages, hence Thura-Yura. Similar words for "person" are found in languages outside the group, however.
The following classification is proposed by Bowern & Koch (2004):
- Nangga: Wirangu, Nauo
- Core Thura-Yura
- Yura (northern): Adnyamathanha–Kuyani, Barngarla
- Kadli (southern): Narangga, Kaurna,
- (unclassified) Nukunu, Ngadjuri
A Nukunu speaker reported that the Nukunu could understand Barngarla and Kuyani, but not more distant varieties.
Dixon (2002) lists a Nantuwara language, but there is no data for it.
Famous quotes containing the word languages:
“Science and technology multiply around us. To an increasing extent they dictate the languages in which we speak and think. Either we use those languages, or we remain mute.”
—J.G. (James Graham)