Harvey uses the term Umbukarla (N43) both as a language name and a dialect name and says the Umbukarla language consists of Ngomburr N40.1 and Umbukarla dialects (PMS 5822).
However, in Harvey (2008) Ngomburr is listed as a separate language.
Harvey reports Magabalal was the Gundjeihmi N71 name for Umbugarla and Ngombur people, and that the Kunwinjku N65 equivalent of Magabalal was Gun-garrigen (N14?), though he cautions that he was unable to confirm this more generally (1992:12, 2002:14).
Harvey tentatively classifies Bugurnidja N42.1 as a variety of Umbugarla proper (2002:14).
Middle reaches of the South Alligator, including lower Jim Jim Creek (Top End Handbook) ...
on lower Jim Jim Creek and on the South Alligator south from the junction with Jim Jim Creek (Harvey PMS 5822)
The general association was to the South Alligator valley south from the Arnhem Highway crossing to around the area of Long Billabong. Fred Wardiirdi (Berndt & Berndt 1989:324-325) associated the area immediately to the west of the Arnhem Highway crossing with Umbugarla (Harvey AILEC 802)
South-west of Oenpelli near Bamboo Creek were the Ambugula (or Numbugala) while at the top of the Alligator River the Banidja (or Buneidja) language was spoken; between these groups and further south-west were the Wada, Widjilg, Bugo?idja, ?umbu, Gundudj, Bugula and south Djauun, who do not come under consideration here (Elkin, Berndt & Berndt 1951:255).
Search MURA people®
Search MURA language®
Search OZBIB
Search Trove
Search Worldcat
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).
Davies, Jennifer. 1989. Umbugarla: a sketch grammar, University of Melbourne: BA (Hons).
