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[Page 37]                                                                                                                                                           21

Notes on Letter Sounds in Dialects

A peculiarity which strikes one in Aboriginal

dialects (so far as my knowledge extends) is the 

entire absence of V, X and Z sounds while Q is

not very frequent. In three dialects from which

I have compiled lists, viz those of the Richmond

River, the Lower Clarence and the Upper Clarence 

the three first named letters do not occur at all

and Q is infrequent. These lists comprise a 

total of nearly 1200 words. 

I have moreover searched several other lists

compiled by various writers from a great variety 

of dialects but, so far, have not found V, X, or Z.

  All Aboriginal dialects appear to be remarkable

for the extensive use if vowel sounds especially 

o and double o. Words of one syllable are 

rare as the foregoing lists, totaling[sic] about 380 words, 

will show there being only a bare half dozen

monosyllables.

                                                    R.L.D 

                                                                      (over)

Current Status: 
Accepted