A2: Kalarku

AIATSIS Code: 
A2
AIATSIS Reference name: 
Kalarku

tab group

Name
ABN Name
-
ABS Name
-
Horton Name
Ngatjunmay (Galagu/Kalako), Malpa
Ethnologue name
Kalarko
ISO 639-3 code
kba
Tindale name
Kalaako
Thesaurus heading
Kalaako / Malpa language (A2) (WA SI51-02)
Tindale (1974)
Kalarko, Malba (i.e., 'circumcised and subincised ones'; name applied by Wudjari to this and other immediately northern tribes).
O'Grady et al (1966)
Malba
Glottocode
kala1379
Other sources
West Mirniny, Marlba [O'Grady et al. 1966:134$4461] Kallaargu, Kallaar [von Brandenstein 1980$733]
Synonyms
Kalaaku
Kalarko
Ngatjunmay
Galagu/Kalako
Malpa
Galagu
Kalako
Ngadjunmaia
Marlba
Beelia
Beeloo
Derbal
Gala:gu
Ilakuri wongi
Juadjag
Juadjek
Juadjuk
Kalaako
Karakata
Karrakatta
Malba
Minal njunga
Minalnjunga
Minnal Yungar
Mooro
Murram
Njindango
Swan River Tribe
Takalako
Wadjug
Wadjuk
Wadjup
Wajuk
Whadjuk
Whajook
Witja:ri
Witjari
Yooadda
Yooard
Yoongar
Yuard
Yuatjek
Yungar
Yungur
Galaagu
West Mirniny
Comment
Language comment
There are conflicting reports about the status of Kalarku with respect to both the name Marlba A110 and Ngadjumaya A3. Little information is available, and there are no remaining speakers of Kalarku (though there is data available), making it impossible to be certain as both von Brandenstein (1970) and Morphy (1985) conclude. Malba/Malpa appears to have been used to refer to several language varieties; as an alternative name for both Kalarku and Ngadjumaya A3, and to refer to a language variety distinct from both of these. Tindale (1974:243) reports that malba means 'circumcised and subincised ones' and is a 'name applied by Wudjari W41 to (Kalaako) and other immediately northern tribes'. However, von Brandenstein (1980:2) says it means 'man' and identifies it as one of six language varieties in the Dundas District area (the others being Mirning (Eucla) A9, Fraser Range A74, Norseman A99, Windaga A111 and Kallaagu (A2), commenting that 'it will be difficult to extract the different components of the (Dundas District) languages (...) from the mixed language now called Ngadju A3 which is still spoken'.
References

Brandenstein, Carl G. von. 1970. Report [to A.I.A.S.] on field work conducted July/August 1970 as part of the 1969/1970 project Western Desert fringe study. (PMS 2140).
Brandenstein, Carl G. von. 1980. Ngadjumaja: an Aboriginal language of south-east Western Australia. Innsbruck: Institut für Sprachwissen-schaft der Universität Innsbruck.
Morphy, F. 1985. Working notes on Western Australian languages. Part of an ARGS project directed by RMS Dixon. (Not held; reported in Theiberger 1987)
Oates, Lynette F. 1975. The 1973 supplement to a revised linguistic survey of Australia. Armidale: Armidale Christian Book Centre.
Thieberger, Nicholas. 1987. Handbook of WA Aboriginal languages (south of the Kimberley region). Preliminary first draft, March 1987. Perth: Institute of Applied Aboriginal Studies, Western Australian College of Advanced Education. (REF 499.15 THI)
Tindale, Norman B. 1974. Aboriginal tribes of Australia: their terrain, environmental controls, distribution, limits, and proper names. Berkeley: University of California Press/Canberra: Australian National University Press.
Status
Confirmed
Location
State
WA
Location information
Green Patch and Scaddan to north of Widgemool-tha; Mount Monger, Golden Ridge, and Burbanks; east to Karkanja, the red ochre deposit approximately 15 miles (24 km.) west of Fraser Range; west to Bremer Range, the Johnston Lakes, Mount Holland, Barker Lake, and Koon-gornin; a boundary camp was situated about three miles south of Coolgardie; at Norseman and Salmon Gums (Tindale 1974). The location given by Oates (1975) is limited to north of Norseman, towards Coolgardie.
Maps
  • Tindale, Norman. 1974. Tribal boundaries in Aboriginal Australia. Canberra: Division of National Mapping, Department of National Development.
Catalogue
Search MURA the AIATSIS catalogue, for items about this language
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Speakers
Speaker table
Oates 1973Senate 1984Schmidt 1990Census 1996Census 2001NILS 20042005 estimateCensus 2006
0-------
Speaker NILS table
1-19 years20-39 years40-59 years60+
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NILS endangerment grade
-
Documentation
Document Score: 
3
Documentation table: 
TypeDocumentation StatusDocumentation Score
Word listLess than 20 pages1
Text CollectionNone0
GrammarNone0
Audio-visual1-102
Manuscript Note: 
tape transcription/field note available (Vocabulary)
Grammar: 
-
Dictionary: 
-
Programs
Activities: 
-
People: 
-
Indigenous organisations: 
-
Classification
Classification table: 
SourceFamilyGroupSub-groupNameRelationship
Ethnologue (2005)Pama-NyunganSouth-WestMirningKalarko
Dixon (2002)WESTERN BIGHT GROUPKalaakuKalaaku (=Ngadjunmaya)
Wurm (1994)Pama-NyunganSouth-WestGalaagu
Walsh (1981)Pama-NyunganSouth-WestMirningGalaagu
Oates (1975)Pama-NyunganPilbara-Nyungar (Southwest)Mirninj (Ngadju)Galaagu
Wurm (1972)Pama-NyunganSouthwest (or Nyungic)MirninyKalarko (Galagu)
O'Grady, Voegelin & Voegelin (1966)Pama-NyunganSouthwestMirninyKalarko