Dench says that (1990, quoted in Wangka Maya 2001:9), there may be as many as five dialects of Kurrama: Yarnarri W31, Yinyjiwarnti Kurrama W60, Mijarranypa W61, Marntartka W62 and Ngamangamara W63.
Dixon (2002) lists treats them as the same language.
Von Brandenstein (pMS 2126) says Kurrama is a Jindjiparndi W37 dialect, with almost identical vocabulary and grammar.
Wordick (1982) says they are closely related and that some linguists would treat them as 'dialects of the same unnamed language' but that speakers consider them distinct.
Tindale (1974) says the name Kurama W36, meaning 'highlanders', may also have been used as a descriptive term for Yindjibarndi people.
Mutalkura (Top End Kurrama)- Hammersley Ranges, around Marandoo and Tom Price as far as Palm Spring; Punukunti (Bottom End Kurrama) - Duck Creek, around Boolgeeda Creek, the western arm of the Beasley River down to Cajuput Spring; Nhamarrnhamarra (Robe River Kurrama) - around Red HIll. This group joined with the Punukunti (Brehaut & Vitenbergs 2001 quoted in Wangka Maya 2001).
Plateau tops of Hamersley Range, north to cliff wall looking down on valley of Fortescue River; east to Mount McCrae at western boundary of Hamersley Station; south to headwaters of Duck Creek and upper Hardey River at Rocklea (Tindale 1974).
Contemporary location Onslow, Tom Price (Dixon 2011:35).
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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).
Wangka Maya PALC. 2006. Kurrama wordlists & sketch grammar. South Hedland, WA: Wangka Maya PALC.
Wangka Maya PALC. 2006. Kurrama wordlists & sketch grammar. South Hedland, WA: Wangka Maya PALC. Burgman, Albert. 2006. Kurrama : Kurrama - English dictionary, English - Kurrama wordlist, topical wordlist and sketch grammar. South Hedland, WA: Wangka Maya PALC.