Yulparija is one of the Wati languages of the large Pama–Nyungan family of Australia. It is sometimes counted as a dialect of the Western Desert language, but is classified as a distinct language in Bowern.

It is one of the components of the Martu Wangka koine.

Phonology

Yulparija has a typical phonemic inventory for languages of the Kimberley area. It uses 17 consonants in five distinct places of articulation.

Consonant phonemes
BilabialApico-alveolarApico-post-alveolarLamino-palatalDorso-velar
Stopsp ⟨p⟩t ⟨t⟩ʈ ⟨rt⟩c ⟨j⟩k ⟨k⟩
Nasalsm ⟨m⟩n ⟨n⟩ɳ ⟨rn⟩ɲ ⟨ny⟩ŋ ⟨ng⟩
Lateralsl ⟨l⟩ɭ ⟨rl⟩ʎ ⟨ly⟩
Tapsɾ ⟨rr⟩
Glidesw ⟨w⟩ɻ ⟨r⟩j ⟨y⟩

Vowels

Yulparija uses a three vowel system, with a length contrast for the open vowel [a] and the close back vowel [u].

Vowel phonemes
FrontBack
Closei [i]u [u], uu []
Opena [a], a []