The Phonology and Morphology of Australian Languages

by Brett J. Baker, Mark Harvey

Overview

Australian languages form a large genetic group with many interesting and distinctive phonological and morphological properties. Written by two experts in the field, this is the first book-length treatment of this topic, providing an in-depth discussion of a wealth of little-known data on the sound systems and word structures of Australian Indigenous languages. It includes a critical evaluation of theoretical approaches from the 1950s up to the current day, including recent experimental, psycholinguistic and processing-based research. Each chapter addresses a major aspect of phonology, including the segmental inventories, complex phonotactic systems, alternations, prosodic phonology and morphology, the behaviour of phonological domains, and the unusual nature of sound change in Australia. The authors also add to this their own groundbreaking findings, and frame each chapter to inform future phonological research and theory. It is essential reading for scholars and students in phonology, phonetics, speech science, morphology, and language typology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781107126985
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	09/30/2025
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 1.50(h) x 9.50(d)

About the Author

Brett J. Baker is Associate Professor in Linguistics at the University of Melbourne. His notable publications include Word Structure in Ngalakgan (CSLI, 2008), Discourse and Grammar in Australian Languages (with Mushin, John Benjamins, 2008), Language and Identity in Aboriginal Australia (with Mushin, Harvey and Gardner, Pacific Linguistics, 2010) and Complex Predicates (with Amberber and Harvey, CUP, 2010).

Mark Harvey is Conjoint Associate Professor in Linguistics, University of Newcastle. His notable publications include A Grammar of Gaagudju (de Gruyter, 2002), A Grammar of Limilngan (Pacific Linguistics, 2001), Proto Mirndi (Pacific Linguistics, 2008), Complex Predicates (with Amberber and Baker, CUP 2010), Nominal Classification in Aboriginal Australia (with Reid, John Benjamins, 1997).

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to the languages of Australia; 2. Segments; 3. Phonotactics and the syllable; 4. Metrical structure; 5. Prosodic morphology and long-distance alternations; 6. Phonological domains; 7. Sound change and the lexicon; 8. Looking back, and looking forward.