Torres Strait Island languages

There are three languages spoken in the Torres Strait Islands: two indigenous languages as well as an English-based creole. the indigenous language spoken mainly in the western as well as central islands is Kalaw Lagaw Ya, belonging to the Pama–Nyungan languages of the Australian mainland. The other indigenous Linguistic communication spoken mainly in the eastern islands is Meriam Mir: a an essential or characteristic part of something abstract. of the Trans-Fly languages spoken on the nearby south flee of New Guinea and the only Papuan language spoken on Australian territory. Both languages are agglutinative; however Kalaw Lagaw Ya appears to be undergoing a transition into a declensional language while Meriam Mìr is more clearly agglutinative. Yumplatok, or Torres Strait Creole, the third language, is a non-typical Pacific English Creole and is the main language of communication on the islands.

Examples

The table below shows how some example phrases differ in the Torres Strait languages. Kalau Kawau Ya, Kala Lagau Ya, Kulkalgau Ya and Kaiwaligau Ya, 'old' Kaiwaligau Ya are the dialects of Kalau Lagau Ya.

Ngai kaualaig

Ngai kaiwalaig

Ngai lagau mabaig, ngai kaiwau mabaig

Ngayi kauraraiga