Giimbiyu is a term Harvey (1992:11-12) introduced as the name of the language which comprises Erre N55, Mengerrdji N53 and Urningangk N66 dialects, since there was no accepted term for the language. The name Giimbiyu is in Gaagudju and can be translated as 'associated with the stone country'. Giimbiyu is now extinct. Giimbiyu is also used as a language family name whose sole member is Giimbiyu language.
Cahills crossing - Mikkinj Valley (Top End Handbook). The general association was to the mid East Alligator drainage. Cannon Hill and Oenpelli were associated with Giimbiyu. Nimbabirr Hill was associated with Bininj Gunwok. Lower Tin Camp Creek was associated with Giimbiyu. Upper Tin Camp Creek, including Myra Falls, was associated with Bininj Gunwok (Harvey 2008 AILEC 0802).
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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).
Birch, Bruce. 2006. A first dictionary of Erre, Mengerrdji and Urningangk: three languages from the Alligator Rivers region of the north western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. Jabiru, NT: Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation.
