Jolly writes that Aghu Tharrnggala (Y65) is related to Rarmul Y71 and Kuku Thaypan Y84, noting that Rigsby (1976:68) compared them and found them to be 'related but distinct languages'. Jolly cites a speaker of Aghu-Tharnggala who says that the language belongs to the /me:yuəlŋə/ or 'butterfly' people (1989:10).
Aghu Tharrnggala (Y65) is classified as belonging to the Alaya-Athima language group, a set of initial-dropping languages not closely related to others of this type in the area. Alpher describes them in regional blocks, with Aghu Tharrnggala located in the northern end near the Hann River. Other members of this group include Awu Alaya (Kuku Thaypan) Y84; Awu Arungu / Awu Alwang / Agu Aloja Y219; Ogh Alungul Y199; Kuku Mini Y94; Ogh Angkula 197; Ikarranggal Y198; Takalak Y125; Ogh Awarrangg Y201; Ongunyjan Y206; Kokiny Y188; Athima Y237 (2016:41-42).
In sum, the evidence suggests there is an area of land owned by the Tharrnggala-speaking butterfly patriclan in the headwaters of the Hann/Morehead river system (Jolly 1989:15).
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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).
Jolly, Lesley. 1989. Aghu Tharrnggala: a language of the Princess Charlotte Bay region of Cape York Peninsula, University of Queensland: BA (Hons).
