According to Breen (2006 p.c.), from the location of Kogai D38 given by Ridley (1875) and Mathews (1904), it appears 'Kogai tribes' might include Guwamu (Kooma) (D33). In this database, Guwamu is treated as a potential dialect of Kogai D38 and is thus classified as a Maric language.
Sim (1967) briefly mentions two dialects of Guwamu (D33), differentiated by the loss of 'hard consonants', especially 'g' word-initially, in the northern dialect. He says the northern dialect is called Nᴧragir̄u and the southern dialect, Bᴧrᴧbgir̄i (Bᴧrᴧ means low). On the line in between these two names appears a comment, 'Known as Gugei people'. It is not clear whether this applies only to the northern dialect or to both. Either way, it would seem to correlate with Breen's observation about the identity of Kogai D38.
Dixon (2002) classes Guwamu (D33) and Gunya D43 as as dialects of Bidyara E37 … Breen (1973) says that Bidyara E37 and Gunya D43 are closely related languages. Later work by Barrett (2005) indicates Marrgany D42 and Gunya D43 are dialects of the same language (in Wafer & Lissarrague, 2008: 322).
Oates (1988) established a high cognate density between Muruwari and Guwamu (in Wafer & Lissarrague, 2008: 324).
Wafer, Jim, and Amanda Lissarrague. 2008. A handbook of Aboriginal languages of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Nambucca Heads: Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-operative.
South of St. George on the Balonne River to Angledool, Hebel, and Brenda; west to Bollon and Nebine Creek; at Dirranbandi (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).
