Kukatja A68 and Kukatja (C7) are described as separate dialects of the Western Desert language A80. Hansen and Hansen write that the Kukatja (A68) people who settled at Balgo Hills were Pintupi C10, who travelled north in the early 20th century, to where the Catholic Mission was later established. They were called Kukatja by Walmatjari A66 and others with the translation 'those who use the word "kuka" (for meat)' (1975:22).
According to Marmion (2005 p.c.), Kukatja people (C7) call themselves Luritja C7.1 these days. Another group known as Mayutjarra, Ngalia C2 and Kukatja C7 were located east of Pintupi country, to the west of Haasts Bluff (Hansen and Hansen, 1975:22).
Tindale wrote that Matuntara (i.e. Hansens' Mayutjarra) is sometimes considered as a southern group of the Kukatja (C7) (1974:231).
Note that items on Kukatja (C7) may be described as being about Kukatja A68 or Kokatha C3 in MURA. Documentation for Kukatja (C7) may also be found under Luritja C7.1 and Pintupi C10.
West of Gosse Range and Palm Valley on the south MacDonnell Ranges; south to Tempe Downs; southwest to Lake Amadeus, George Gill Range, Cleland Hills (Mer-andji), Inindi near Mount Forbes, and Thomas Reservoir (Alala); on upper Palmer, Walker, and Rudall creeks (Tindale 1974).
Search MURA people®
Search MURA language®
Search OZBIB
Search Trove
Search Worldcat
Speaker numbers were measured differently across the censuses and various other sources listed in AUSTLANG. You are encouraged to refer to the sources.
Speaker numbers for ‘NILS 2004’ and ‘2005 estimate’ come from 'Table F.3: Numbers of speakers of Australian Indigenous languages (various surveys)' in 'Appendix F NILS endangerment and absolute number results' in McConvell, Marmion and McNicol 2005, pages 198-230 (PDF, 2.5MB).
