probably the verge of extinction, one (Kaiwaligau Ya) through convergence to the neighbouring Kalaw Lagaw Ya. Within the dialects there are two or more subdialects. The average mutual intelligibility rate, based on a Swadesh count, is around 97%. Northern dialect: Kalau Kawau Ya (Kalaw Kawaw Ya) — Saibai (Saibai Village and Aith, also Bamaga/Seisia on Cape York), Dœwan (Dauan), Bœigu (Boigu); Western dialect: Kalau Lagau Ya (Kalaw Lagaw Ya) — Mabuyag (Mabuiag) and Badhu (Badu). The western dialect also has a simplified form, particularly on Badhu, where quite a few foreign men of Malay and South Sea Islander origin settled with their Island wives in the late 1800s and early 1900s; Eastern dialect (Central Island dialect, spoken by the Kulkulgal nation): Kulkalgau Ya — Masig, Yama, Waraber, Puruma, and associated islands, now uninhabited, such as Nagi, Tudu and Gebar; Southern dialect (South-West Islands): Kaiwaligau Ya [Kauraraigau Ya] — Muralag, Ngœrupai (alt. Ngurupai) and the other islands of the Thursday Island group, Mua (alt. Moa), Muri (Mt Adolphus — now uninhabited); Muwalgau Ya / Italgau Ya — Mua. Now converging with Kalaw Lagaw Ya. The Southern dialect has certain characteristics that link it closely to the northern dialect, and folk history dealing with the Muralag group and Mua reflects this, in that the ancestors of the Kowrareg (the Hiámo) originally came from Dharu (Daru, to the north east of Torres Strait) — and who had previously settled on Dharu from Yama in Central Torres Strait. Samples of the dialects They cut down a big tree earlier today to make a canoe. Kalau Kawau Ya: Thana kayb kœi puy pathanu gulpa aymœipa. Kalaw Lagaw Ya: Thana kayib kœi puuyi pathanu gulka ayimka. Kulkalgau Ya: Thana kayb kœi puy pathanu[l] gulka aymœika. Kaiwaligau Ya/Muwalgau Ya: Thana kayib kœi puy pathanu[l] gulpa aymaipa. Old Kaiwaligau Ya (Kowrareg): Thana kayiba kœi puuři pathanulai gulpa[ri] ayimařipa[ri]. Simplified Kalaw Lagaw Ya: Thana kaib kœi puy pathai gulka aymaik. Underlying form: Some isolect markers of the four dialects of Kalaw Lagaw Ya: Dialectal differences Phonology Phonological differences between the dialects are rare, and in general sporadic. The only regular differences are the following: Colloquial final unstressed vowel elision Found in Kulkalgau Ya and Kaiwalgau Ya: maalu 'sea' > maal’ waapi 'fish' > waap’ thathi 'father' > thath’ waaru 'turtle' > waar’ ngadha 'appearance, looks' > ngadh’ mœràpi 'bamboo' (à shows the stressed syllable) > mœràp’ bera 'rib' >