Dhuwaya is a common contemporary dialect of Yolngu which has arisen from language contact. It is also known as Baby Gumatj (N116). Thus, unlike other Yolngu dialects, Dhuwaya has no clan affiliations and no associated territory, although it is associated in a non-traditional way with the Yirrkala settlement. It is used universally by the younger generation in all informal contexts, but regarded as a low status, stigmatized dialect (Amery, 1985:2). Dhuwaya can be regarded as a variety of the Dhuwala N199 - Dhuwal N198 - Dhay'yi N118 language. More specifically it shares features with the Eastern and Southern Dhuwala N199 and Dhuwal N198 varieties (Amery, 1985:19). Heath indicates it includes a portion of Madarpa mata N111 (1980:1). For Yolngu languages see Yolngu Matha N230.
it is associated with the Yirrkala settlement in a non-traditional way (Amery MS 2823:2).
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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).
