K52: Ngarnawu

AIATSIS code: 
K52
AIATSIS reference name: 
Ngarnawu

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Name
Thesaurus heading language
Thesaurus heading people
ABN name
-
ABS name
-
Horton name
Ngarinyin (Ngarnawu)
Ethnologue name
-
ISO 639-3 code
-
Tindale name
-
Tindale (1974)
O'Grady et al (1966)
Glottocode
-
Other sources
Nganaw [McGregor and Rumsey 2009:1]
Synonyms
Ngarinyin, Guwij, Munumburru, Ngarinjin, Ungarinjin, Wilawila, Wolyamidi, Nganau, Nganaw, Worrorran
Comment
Comments: 

Ngarnawu is a non-Pama Nyungan language of the Worrorran language group - specifically Eastern Worrorran along with Ngarinyin K18, Wurla K43, Andajin K64, Guwij K19, Wolyamidi K26, Munumburru K25; Ngarnawu is also described as 'nowadays more or less equated with central and western Ngarinyin.' These languages are geographically contiguous (in the northern Kimberley region, Western Australia) and all have five noun classes and gender distinction (McGregor and Rumsey 2009:5-7).

McGregor classifies this as a member of the Ngarinyinic group, adding Walajangarri K24 to the above list. Ngarnawu K52, Walajangarri K24, Wurla K43 and Guwij K19are considered to be types of Ngarinjin K18 by knowledgeable people; Andajin K64 is regarded as a separate language (McGregor, 2004:42-43).

Vászolyi regarded Ngarna(w)u as a Ngarinjin K18 dialect (in Oates 1975:54).

 

References: 
  • McGregor, William. 2004. The Languages of the Kimberley, Western Australia. New York : RoutledgeCurzon.
  • McGregor, William, and Alan Rumsey. 2009. Worrorran revisited: the case for genetic relations among languages of the Northern Kimberley region of Western Australia: Pacific Linguistics 600. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.
  • Oates, Lynette F. 1975. The 1973 supplement to a revised linguistic survey of Australia. Armidale: Armidale Christian Book Centre.
Status: 
Confirmed
Location
State / Territory: 
WA
Location information: 

[A part of Ngarinyin country]

Maps: 
-
Links
Handbook of Kimberley Languages (1988): 

Gurduwanga (A24 ) in Handbook of Kimberley Languages (1988).

5.9 Ngarnawu / Nganaw

Names of the language and different spellings that have been used:
Ngarnawoo (Hudson & McConvell)
Nganaw (Black & Walsh)
Nganau (Black)
Ngana(w)u (Oates)
Classification of the language:
Worrorran family, Ungarinyinic groupaterial available on the language:
Identification codes:
AIAS:
Oates 1973: 46.4
Capell:
Present number and distribution of speakers:
Not known
People who have worked intensively on the language:
No one
Practical orthography:
None
Word lists:
SIL (1971)
Textual material:
None
Grammar or sketch grammar:
None
Material available on the language:
Summer Institute of Linguistics. 1971. AIAS word list for N.E. Kimberleys survey: Nganau language. AIAS tapes A2183,2184,2186,2187. 18pp. AIAS pMs 1804.
Language programme:
None
Language learning material:
None
Literacy material:
None

McGregor, William. 1988 Handbook of Kimberley Languages. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. © Author.

AIATSIS gratefully acknowledge William McGregor for permission to use his material in AUSTLANG.

Programs
Activities: 
-
People: 
-
Indigenous organisations: 
-
Speakers
Year Source Speaker numbers
1975Oates-
1984Senate-
1990Schmidt-
1996Census-
2001Census-
2004NILS1-
2005Estimate-
2006Census-
2011Census-
2014NILS2
2016Census-
2018-2019NILS3

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).

Documentation
Type Documentation Status Documentation Score
Word list None 0
Text Collection None 0
Grammar None 0
Audio-visual None 0
Manuscript note: 
-
Grammar: 
-
Dictionary: 
-
Classification
Source Family Group Sub-group Name Relationship
Ethnologue (2005)          
Dixon (2002)   NORTH KIMBERLEY AREAL GROUP   Ngarnawu Ungarinjin Rumsey (1982a) further dialects: Guwidj (Orla), Waladja, Ngarnawu, Andadjin, Munumburru, Wolyamidi, Waladjangarri
Wurm (1994)          
Walsh (1981)          
Oates (1975) Wororan Ngarinjinic   Ngana(w)u  
Wurm (1972)          
O'Grady, Voegelin and Voegelin (1966)