K30: Malngin

AIATSIS code: 
K30
AIATSIS reference name: 
Malngin

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Name
Thesaurus heading language
Malngin language K30
Thesaurus heading people
Malngin people K30
ABN name
-
ABS name
Malngin
Horton name
Gurindji (Malngin)
Ethnologue name
Gurinji [Malngin]
ISO 639-3 code
-
Tindale name
Malngin
Tindale (1974)
Malgin, Malngjin.
O'Grady et al (1966)
Malgin
Glottocode
-
Other sources
Synonyms
Gurinji, Gurindji, Kartangarurru, Korindji, Kurintji, Tjial, Wandjira, Maialnga, Mailnga, Malgin, Malngjin, Western
Comment
Comments: 
Malngin ('hooked spear') is a Pama-Nyungan language of the Ngumbin sub-group; it is a dialect of Gurindji C20 (see also Eastern Gurindji C30). Nominal cases, verb conjugations and derivational processes are marked by suffixation in Malgnin; pre-verbs distinguish wider meanings for verbs. Malgin has an avoidance speech style between mother and son-in-law (Ise, 1999:3-13).
References: 
  • Ise, Megumi. 1999. Grammatical Sketch of the Malngin Language. MA thesis. Hokkaido University.
  • Harvey, Mark. 2008. Non-Pama-Nyungan Languages: land-language associations at colonisation. AILEC 0802.
Status: 
Confirmed
Location
State / Territory: 
NT
WA
Location information: 
Eastward limit: General limit was the drainage of Stirling Creek. Limbunya homestead was affiliated with Malngin. Midnight Yard was the easternmost extension of Malngin affiliations. Northward limit: There was no precise information on the northward limit in 2007. Bamboo Spring was affiliated with Malngin. The headwaters of the West Baines above Waterloo homestead. Waterloo homestead was affiliated with Nyiwanawu. Westward limit: There was no precise information on the westward limit in 2007. Spring Creek homestead, Mistake Creek homestead, New and Old Ord River homesteads were all affiliated with Malngin. The Bungle Bungle Range was affiliated with Gija. Southward limit: This is inferred on the basis of information Tsunoda provides on Djaru, and on the information for the northern limit of Wanyjirra (Harvey ASEDA 802).
Maps: 
-
Links

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PDF icon Oates_K30.pdf
Tindale 1974
Sourcebook for Central Australian Languages (1981): 

Ngadawanga (A30 ) in Sourcebook for Central Australian Languages (1981).

Malngin

Names of the language and different spellings that have been used:
Malngin (AC, SAW, O'G, RLS, AIAS, Kaberry)
Classification of the language:
Northern Western Desert type, Ngumbin subgroup
Identification codes:
Oates '73: 59.4
AIAS: K.030
Capell: K13
Present number and distribution of speakers:
Malngin: Upper Ord River valley, eastern Kimberleys
Black, 1979 --
Wanjira: Traditionally, between Upper Baines and Ord Rivers.(RLS)
Inverway, Wave Hill.
Milliken, 1972 -- 54
Black, 1979 -- about 50
People who have worked intensively on the language:
None.
Practical orthography:
None. Gurindji or Walmatjari orthography probably suitable.
Word lists:
Capell, 1966.
Grammar or sketch grammar:
None.
Material available on the language:
Capell, A. 1940. The classification of languages in north and north-west Australia. Oceania 10.3:241-272, 10.4:404-433. tbls. maps. (brief comparative vocabularies, grammatical
study, outline phonetics)
---------- 1966(?). Malngin vocabulary. 22p. ts. Sydney. (Malngin-English, about 550 words) (pMs 309, AIAS)
---------- 1972. The affix-transferring languages of Australia. Linguistics 87:5-36.
Kaberry, Phyllis. 1937. Notes on the languages of east Kimberley. Oceania 8.1:90-103.
Meggitt, Mervyn J. 1955. Notes on the Malngin and Gurindji Aborigines of Limbunya, N.W. Northern Territory. Mankind 5.2:45-50.
Literacy material:
None.

Kathy Menning (comp.) and David Nash (ed.) 1981. © IAD Press

AIATSIS gratefully acknowledges IAD Press for permission to use this material in AUSTLANG.

Handbook of Kimberley Languages (1988): 

Palyku (A55 ) in Handbook of Kimberley Languages (1988).

8.15 Malngin

Names of the language and different spellings that have been used:
Malgin, Malngin (Capell, O'Grady, Oates, AIAS, Kaberry, Wurm, Black & Walsh)
Classification of the language:
Northern Western Desert type, Ngumbin subgroup
Identification codes:
AIAS: K30
Oates 1973: 59.4
Capell: K13
Present number and distribution of speakers:
Upper Ord River valley, eastern Kimberleys
Milliken (1976) - estimated 31 speakers in the NT
People who have worked intensively on the language:
No one.
Practical orthography:
None in use. Some variant of the South Kimberley orthography would probably be suitable.
Word lists:
Capell (1966)
Textual material:
None
Grammar or sketch grammar:
None
Material available on the language:
Capell, A. 1940. The classification of languages in north and north-west Australia. Oceania 10. 241-272, 404-433.
_____ .1966(?). Malngin vocabulary. 22p. typescript. (Malngin-English, about 550 words) AIAS pMs 309.
_____ .1972. The affix-transferring languages of Australia. Linguistics 87. 5-36.
Kaberry, P. 1937. Notes on the languages of east Kimberley. Oceania 8. 90-103.
Meggitt, M.J. 1955. Notes on the Malngin and Gurindji Aborigines of Limbunya, N.W. Northern Territory. Mankind 5. 45-50.
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: 
Anthony Peile, Tasaku Tsunoda
Indigenous organisations: 
-
Speakers
Year Source Speaker numbers
1975Oates-
1984Senate-
1990Schmidt20
1996Census-
2001Census-
2004NILS112
2005Estimate12
2006Census9
2011Census-
2014NILS2
2016Census4
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
TypeDocumentation StatusDocumentation Score
Word listSmall (20-100 pages)2
Text CollectionNone0
Grammar2?
Audio-visual1-102
Manuscript note: 
tape transcription/field note available
Grammar: 

Ise, Megumi. 1999. Grammatical Sketch of the Malngin language. Hokkaido University.

Dictionary: 
Capell, Arthur. Malngin vocabulary, ms.
Classification
SourceFamilyGroupSub-groupNameRelationship
Ethnologue (2005)Pama-NyunganSouth-WestNgumbinGurinji [Malngin]Gurinji [dialects: Malngin, Wanyjirra (Wandjirra)]
Dixon (2002)NORTHERN DESERT FRINGE SUBGROUPEdgar Range to Victoria River subgroup*MalnginGurindji (Kuurrinjtji) McConvell (ms.a) further dialects: Wanjdjirra, Malngin, Wurlayi, Ngarinman, Pilinara; possibly also Kartangarurru
Wurm (1994)
Walsh (1981)Pama-NyunganSouth-WestNgumbinMalngin, Western (Gurindji)Gurindji (Guurindji) [dialects: Eastern (Gurindji), Malngin, Western (Gurindji), Wanyjirra]
Oates (1975)Pama-NyunganNorthern Western Desert TypeNgumbin (Eastern Kimberleys)Malngin
Wurm (1972)Pama-NyunganSouthwest (or Nyungic)NgumbinMalngin
O'Grady, Voegelin and Voegelin (1966)Pama-NyunganSouthwestNgumbinMalngin