L34: Mithaka

AIATSIS code: 
L34
AIATSIS reference name: 
Mithaka

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Name
Thesaurus heading language
Mithaka language L34
Thesaurus heading people
Mithaka people L34
ABN name
-
ABS name
-
Horton name
Mithaka
Ethnologue name
Dieri [Midhaga]
ISO 639-3 code
-
Tindale name
Mitaka
Tindale (1974)
Mittaka, Mittuka, Marunga (name claimed by one of the last survivors, Mit:aka being supposedly a Dieri term), Marrala and Marranda (language names), Murunuta, Mi-daga.
O'Grady et al (1966)
Glottocode
-
Other sources
Marunuda (Campbell) [Mathew 1899]
Synonyms
Midhaga, Dieri, Mittaka, Mittuka, Marunga, Marrala, Marranda, Murunuta, Mi daga
Comment
Comments: 

Breen says Midhaga forms a dialect chain with Ngamini L22, Dhirari L14, Dieri L17, Yaluyandi L31 and Garwali L35 and forms part of the Karnic language group (1976:745).

Breen thinks Mithaka, Marrulha L33 and Marunuda L49 are the same language, but he does not know whether they are alternative names or distinct varieties (dialects) of the same language (2006, p.c.).

 

References: 
  • Breen, Gavan. 1967. Preliminary report of linguistic survey of Western Queensland 1967. (MS 159 (Part 1)).
  • Breen, Gavan. 1976. Ngamini, and a note on Midhaga. In R.M.W. Dixon (ed.) Grammatical categories in Australian languages, Linguistic Series No. 22, pp. 745-50. Canberra: AIAS. (B D621.81/G1)
  • Hercus, Luise Anna. 1994. A grammar of the Arabana-Wangkangurru language, Lake Eyre Basin, South Australia: Pacific Linguistics C-128. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.
  • Tindale, Norman B. 1974. Aboriginal tribes of Australia: their terrain, environmental controls, distribution, limits, and proper names. Berkeley: University of California Press/Canberra: Australian National University Press.
Status: 
Confirmed
Location
State / Territory: 
QLD
Location information: 

From Durrie north to Glengyle; east to near Monkira; about Lake Machattie, west to Kalidawarry (Tindale 1974).

The Bluff (Roseberth) to Haddon Downs to Currawilla to Monkira to Cacoory (Breen 1967).

 

Maps: 
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Links

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PDF icon Oates_L34_0.pdf
Tindale 1974
Programs
Activities: 
-
People: 
-
Indigenous organisations: 

Mithaka Aboriginal Corporation - https://mithaka.org.au/

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 Less than 20 pages 1
Text Collection None 0
Grammar None 0
Audio-visual 1-10 2
Manuscript note: 
tape transcription/field note available
Grammar: 
-
Dictionary: 
-
Classification
Source Family Group Sub-group Name Relationship
Ethnologue (2005) Pama-Nyungan Karnic Karna Dieri [Midhaga] Dieri [dialects: Related to Garuwali, Marrula, Midhaga, Yarluyandi, all of which may be extinct.]
Dixon (2002)   LAKE EYRE BASIN AREAL GROUP Central Lake Eyre Basin areal group Midhaga Midhaga further dialects: Karruwali, Marrulha (or Marrula)
Wurm (1994) Pama-Nyungan Karnic   Midhaga  
Walsh (1981) Pama-Nyungan Karnic Diyari/Karna Midhaga  
Oates (1975) Pama-Nyungan Karnic Karna Midhaga  
Wurm (1972)          
O'Grady, Voegelin and Voegelin (1966)