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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉)

@nawalker.bsky.social
545 followers 71 following 425 posts

Vice President, Western Institute for Endangered Language Documentation (California, USA); Adjunct Research Fellow, College of Arts Society & Education, James Cook University (Queensland, Australia) www.wieldoc.org

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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
ʔa:č’et̯o k’al:akʰ:e 😞
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Likely true. We’ll never know—the record is so poor—but the following is probably correct about the ~5 Tasmanian families (~12 languages): no sibilant fricatives, no voicing distinction, coronal obstruents at up to 3 places (e.g. <dj>, <d>, <dh>), at least 4 nasals, w/ initial /ŋ/ & just 3 vowels.
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
The little dictionary I made for the Chhé’ee Fókaa is now up on the Tribe’s website: www.saltpomo.org/our-mission-1
saltpomo.org
Our Language — Chhé'ee Fókaa Band of Northeastern Pomo
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
I have a physical copy checked out through the University of Tasmania
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Dixon & Crowley (1981) address this & show that it’s possible to recover initial /ŋ/ in the Robinson data, though they make no effort to do so for more than their own example forms. On the basis of the forms for ‘spear’ in Plomley (1976), I propose a NE form /ˈŋalana/ ‘spear’.
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
We know that (a) Robinson failed to capture initial /ŋ/ in other languages for which we know it was present; (b) that vowel-initial words were probably non-existent in Tasmania; (c) the records for ‘spear’ vacillate between vowel-initial, <g>-initial, and <n>-initial forms.
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
An example of the work that must be done to repair Tasmanian language data: the Northeastern language(s) (my current focus) were largely recorded by an Englishman (G. A. Robinson) who couldn’t hear initial /ŋ/. Here are examples of NE forms for ‘spear’ from Plomley (1976):
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
1978 was the last year it was minted, but because it was so big, it sat around in banks for many years thereafter. The last time I encountered it in the wild was in grad school ~18 years ago: a local bank had a roll of them that’d been forgotten. Cool coin
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
The coolest thing still barely in circulation when I was a kid was the Eisenhower "silver" dollar. I remember asking my mom to get one from a bank teller (about 1985), who had one handy. I somehow lost it before we got home by dropping it down the seat-belt well of our 1978 Oldsmobile :(
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
When I was a kid in the USA, it was always a big deal when you came across a $2 bill in the wild. I probably only saw a half dozen of them, and I'd always try to hold onto one.
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Got to attend my first Tasmanian NAIDOC celebrations at an Aboriginal centre. There was dancing, and I got to try native-plant-infused treats!
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Oooooohhhh…are the slides available?
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
New toy! (It’s fantastic) @chirila.bsky.social
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Nope—we’re on the other side of the state
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
I'm still amazed that we have these in Unicode! Definitely my favorite writing system in the Old World. 𔓢𔓭𔓬𔔓𔒒𔓚𔓣𔐁 What will it take to get Mayan glyphs on Unicode? sei.berkeley.edu/wp-content/u...
sei.berkeley.edu
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Worth a read: sinoxenic.wordpress.com/2026/06/30/t...
sinoxenic.wordpress.com
Tangut grades
Grades in Sino-TibetanCompiling Sinitic comparadaAnalysis of dataExplanation of the extraneous comparadaMedial yodVelar codaeConclusionsPotential avenues of further researchWithin rGyalrongicWithin…
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Saw this while 5 seasons deep into Northern Exposure, which I haven't watched since it was live on TV
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Chhé’ee Fókaa (unlike its 6 congeners) has a true retroflex series, which could be affricated. So /ʈ ʈ’ ʈʰ/ were [ʈ͡ʂ(ʴ) ʈ͡ʂ’(ʴ) ʈ͡ʂʰʴ]. This series contrasted with /t͡ʃ t͡ʃ’ t͡ʃʰ/, but McLendon struggled to hear the difference consistently. /ʈʰɔʔoː/ ‘acorn mush’ is known from better records from others.
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
I've had a few days to get back to my ongoing effort to go through Sally McLendon's Chhé'ee Fókaa (Northeastern Pomo) 1950s field notes, which only came to light last year. I found some nice examples of question formation when asking someone whether they would like acorn mush:
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Please join us this December! bsky.app/profile/wiel...
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
I hope you make a speedy recovery
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 25/12/2025
𐐣𐐯𐑉𐐨 𐐗𐑉𐐮𐑅𐑋𐐲𐑅
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
ɑem θæŋkfʊl tə biː ɪn əstɹæɪljə
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
I don’t use this site much. Hope they cite something more useful!
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
#ថៃជាអ្នកផ្ដេីមសង្គ្រាម /tʰaj ciə nĕək pɗaəm sɒŋkriəm/ [t̪ʰaj t͡ɕiə̯ n̪ĕə̯ʔ b̊ɗaə̯̃m sɒ̃ŋˈɡ̊ɾiə̯̃m]
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
/kʰɤːɲ pŭənlɯː plɤːŋ plɯp plɛːt nɯʋ ciəj plɤʋ teː/ [kʰɤ̃ːɲ b̥ŭə̯̃n̪.ˈlɯː pʰlɤ̃ːŋ pʰlɯp̚ pʰlɛ̝ːt̪̚ nɯʊ̯ t͡ɕiə̯j pʰlɤʊ̯ t̪eː] see light(s) blinking LOC edge road PARTICLE '(When/if there are) flashing lights on the side of the road...'
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Example of the Khmer love of alliteration in an injunction to slow to 40 when emergency lights are flashing on the side of the road: ឃើញពន្លឺភ្លើងភ្លឹបភ្លែតនៅជាយផ្លូវទេ [kʰɤ̃ːɲ b̥ŭə̯̃n̪.ˈlɯː pʰlɤ̃ːŋ pʰlɯp̚ pʰlɛ̝ːt̪̚ nɯʊ̯ t͡ɕiə̯j pʰlɤʊ̯ t̪eː]
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
The above blazon and its origin and meaning are available here: www.heraldry-wiki.com/wiki/Launces...
heraldry-wiki.com
Arms (crest) of Launceston (Tasmania)
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Crest: On a Wreath of the Colours, a branch of Gum Tree leaved proper, thereon a Yellow Wattle Bird holding in the beak a sprig of the same also proper. Supporters: Two Tasmanian Tigers [Thylacines] proper, gorged and chained Azure. Motto: 'Progress with Prudence'
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Arms of Launceston, Tasmania Blazon: Arms: Or, on a Pall reversed Azure a Bezant in centre point and an Ingot of Tin proper on each of the lower limbs, on a Chief indented Vert three Waratah Flowers stalked and leaved also proper. (See picture I took in town today of the painted arms)
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
[ʔaːɪˈhɛiʔ͡t̪ːəˌkʰɔ̝ˑl̴d͡d̥]
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
It’s worse than that: they used <𐐊> /ʌ/ instead of <𐐡>!
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
Whoa! And man…that’s disappointing :(
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
#australiancoins Found a Norfolk Island centenary coin (one of only a few I’ve ever seen). This is one of my favorite designs.
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
#langsky I was recently interviewed by a professor of translation studies, and the interview has just been published in an outlet for his discipline. Check it out: hopscotchtranslation.com/2025/04/22/s...
hopscotchtranslation.com
Saving Lost Sounds
Neil Alexander Walker tells Peter Constantine about his scholarship and his efforts to document, preserve, and translate the Indigenous Pomoan languages of Northern California.
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 19/04/2025
𐐐𐐈𐐑𐐀 𐐀𐐝𐐓𐐊𐐡! /ˈhæpi ˈistɚ/ Happy Easter! www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/genera...
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Yes, the voiced initial is restricted to function words
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
And for me, THIN [θɪ̃ːn] versus THEN [ðɪ̃ːn]
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
𐐒𐑏𐐻𐐮𐑁𐐳𐑊𐐨 𐑉𐐮𐐻𐐯𐑌! 𐐎𐐲𐑌 𐑌𐐬𐐻: <be> 𐐮𐑆 𐑅𐐹𐐯𐑊𐐼 <𐐺> 𐐺𐐨𐐿𐐫𐑆 𐐮𐐻𐑅 𐑊𐐯𐐻𐐯𐑉 𐑌𐐩𐑋 𐐮𐑆 𐐸𐐬𐑋𐐪𐑁𐐲𐑌𐐯𐑅 𐐶𐐮𐑃 𐑄 𐐶𐐲𐑉𐐼.
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
Sadly, it doesn’t work with Twitter or here 𔐓
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
𐐜𐐵 𐐪𐑉𐐻 𐐮𐑌𐐼𐐨𐐼 𐐶𐐴𐑆 𐐰𐑌𐐼 𐑌𐐬𐐯𐑅𐐻 𐐸𐐶𐐩𐑉𐐪𐑂 𐑄𐐵 𐑅𐐹𐐨𐐿𐐯𐑅𐐻!
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
Thanks. I tried that, and it installed, but it doesn’t seem to work for me. (I restarted the phone, too.)
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
Bummer :( Why is Apple like this?
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
I’m able to see them on my Mac by adding the Noto Sans Anatolian Hieroglyph font. Is there no way to add that font to my iPhone?
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
#langsky Can anyone help me figure out to how to get Unicode Anatolian hieroglyphs to display on my iPhone?
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
youtu.be/fOd_hodh7Mc?...
youtu.be
Petra Goedegebuure | Luwian Hieroglyphs: An Indigenous Anatolian Syllabic Script
YouTube video by The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Sorry, I meant a comparison of <𐐆𐐅> vs. <𐐅> after <𐐏> (not <𐐏𐐆𐐅> vs. <𐐏𐐅> in general). W/ regard to latter, I think it’s just a lack of standardization; the former likely has the same reason, but if it’s consistent, I could be persuaded otherwise. (Is <𐐏𐐆𐐅> in ‘University’ added to your database)
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Yes, but have you looked at the use of <𐐏𐐆𐐅> vs. <𐐏𐐅> in other words? I haven’t, but if there’s a trend to one another on the basis of coda voicing, it might suggest the scribe was affected by that in his choice of transcription.
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Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐝𐐰𐑌𐐼𐐲𐑉) @nawalker.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
𐐦 x.com/neilalexande... 𐑏 x.com/neilalexande... 𐐮𐐭 𐐱𐐮 𐐲𐑉 𐐯𐑉 𐐸𐐶 x.com/neilalexande...
x.com
Dr Neil Alexander Walker (𐐙𐑏𐐽𐐲𐑉 𐐝𐐹𐐨𐐽𐐨) on X: "The 39th letter of the Deseret Alphabet is 𐐦 /ɔɪ/. This is 1 of 2 optional letters for diphthongs, & it's hugely problematic. There're 2 completely different forms of the letter: 1, as in the example image, is a ligature of 𐐉 /ɒ/ + 𐐆/ɪ/. The 2nd, which I see in my Firefox... https://t.co/uSMpRwSRpD" / X
The 39th letter of the Deseret Alphabet is 𐐦 /ɔɪ/. This is 1 of 2 optional letters for diphthongs, & it's hugely problematic. There're 2 completely different forms of the letter: 1, as in the example image, is a ligature of 𐐉 /ɒ/ + 𐐆/ɪ/. The 2nd, which I see in my Firefox... https://t.co/uSMpRwSRpD
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