D42: Margany

AIATSIS code: 
D42
AIATSIS reference name: 
Margany

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Name
Thesaurus heading language
Thesaurus heading people
ABN name
Margany language
ABS name
-
Horton name
Margany
Ethnologue name
Margany
ISO 639-3 code
zmc
Tindale name
Maranganji
Tindale (1974)
Marukanji (valid alternative), Marganj, Marnganji (typographical error), Murngain, Murgoin, Murgoan.
O'Grady et al (1966)
Murngain, Murgoin, Murgoan
Glottocode
marg1253
Other sources
-
Synonyms
Marrganj, Maranganji, Maranj, Marganj, Marnganji, Marukanji, Murgoan, Murgoin, Murngain, Marngany, Mardigan
Comment
Comments: 

Breen (1971:34) describes Marganj (D42) and Gunja D43 as dialects of the same language (1971:34), adding later that Margany (D42) and Gunya D43 are dialects of a language which has no name and that 'Margany and Gunya are the south-westernmost of the long chain of closely related dialects (it is not clear yet how many languages they formed) known ... as Mari languages' (1981:275), a statement which highlights both the uncertain classification of these lects and the variable use of the term 'dialect' in most of the relevant sources.

Both the terminological issue and the uncertain classification are apparent in Schmidt (1981:1), who says there were 'approximately 34 dialects' of 'the Maric language family' (some of which are Margany (D42), Gunya D43, Bidjara E37 and Biri E56), and Terrill (1998:90), who says Margany and Gunya are 'dialects of a language to the south of Biri'.

 

 

References: 
  • Breen, Gavan. 1971. Aboriginal languages of western Queensland. In Linguistic Communications 5, 1-88. Melbourne: Monash University.
  • Breen, Gavan. 1981. Margany and Gunya. In Handbook of Australian languages vol. 2, eds R. M. W. Dixon and B. J. Blake, 274-393. Canberra: ANU Press.
  • Curr, Edward Micklethwaite. 1886-87. The Australian race: its origin, languages, customs, place of landing in Australia, and the routes by which it spread itself over that continent. Melbourne: John Ferres, Government Printer; London: Trübner.
  • Schmidt, Annette. 1981. Problems of Australian dialectology: the Maric dialects of Queensland. (PMS 4609)
  • Terrill, Angela. 1998. Biri: Languages of the world 258. München: Lincom Europa.
  • 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: 

Quilpie to Cheepie and Beechal, thence Paroo River to Eulo; on Bulloo River south to near Thargomindah; at Dynevor Downs and Ardoch (Tindale 1974).

 

 

Maps: 
-
Links
Programs
Activities: 
-
People: 
Gavan Breen
Indigenous organisations: 
-
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 Small (20-100 pages) 2
Text Collection None 0
Grammar Sketch grammar (less than 100 pages) 2
Audio-visual 1-10 2
Manuscript note: 
tape transcription/field note available
Grammar: 

Gavan, Breen.1981. Margany and Gunya. In Handbook of Australian languages, vol. 2, eds. RMW Dixon and B Blake, 274-393. Canberra: ANU.

Dictionary: 

Gavan, Breen.1981. Margany and Gunya. In Handbook of Australian languages, vol. 2, eds. RMW Dixon and B Blake, 274-393. Canberra: ANU.

Classification
Source Family Group Sub-group Name Relationship
Ethnologue (2005) Pama-Nyungan Maric   Margany  
Dixon (2002)   GREATER MARIC GROUP Maric proper subgroup Marrganj Bidjara* Breen (1973, 1981a) further dialects: Gungabula, Marrganj, Gunja, Wadjigu, Gayiri, Dharawala, Wadjalang, Wadjabangayi, Yiningayi, Yanjdjibara, Mandandanjdji, Guwamu, Gunggari, Ganulu, Gabulbara, Wadja, Nguri
Wurm (1994) Pama-Nyungan Maric   Margany  
Walsh (1981) Pama-Nyungan Maric Mari Margany  
Oates (1975) Pama-Nyungan Maric Mari Marganj  
Wurm (1972) Pama-Nyungan Pama-Maric Mari Marngany(i)  
O'Grady, Voegelin and Voegelin (1966) Pama-Nyungan Pama-Maric Mari Marnganji