N94.1: Djinang

AIATSIS code: 
N94.1
AIATSIS reference name: 
Djinang

tabs_horizontal

Name
Thesaurus heading language
Djinang language N94.1
Thesaurus heading people
Djinang people N94.1
ABN name
-
ABS name
Djinang
Horton name
Yolngu (Djinang)
Ethnologue name
Djinang
ISO 639-3 code
dji
Tindale name
Djinang
Tindale (1974)
Jandjinang (valid alternative, with prefix), Jand-jinung, Yandjinung, Yandjinning, Yandjinang, Djinnang, Djinhang, Milingimbi (place name), Millingimbi, Wulllakki, Wulaki, Ullaki, Wulagi, Balmbi (group term), Balmawi, Barlmawi, Manjarngi (clan name), Manyarrngi, Mun-narngo, Manarrngu.
O'Grady et al (1966)
Yandijinang, Yandjinung
Glottocode
djin1253
Other sources
Djinang, Jinang, Jandji:nangc [Top End Handbook] Djina?, Yändjina?, Yandjinung (Warner 1937) [Schebeck 2001:90, 96]
Synonyms
Djinang dialects, Yolngu, Ritharngu, Daii, Diakui, Djinba, Jandjinung, Yandijinang, Yandjinung, Jinang, Jandji:nangc, Jandjinang, Jand jinung, Yandjinning, Yandjinang, Djinnang, Djinhang, Milingimbi, Millingimbi, Wulllakki, Wulaki, Ullaki, Wulagi, Balmbi, Balmawi, Barlmawi, Manjarngi, Manyarrngi, Mun narngo, Manarrngu
Comment
Comments: 

Djinang is a Yolngu language, see Yolngu Matha N230. Djinang (94.1) is not mutually intelligible with other Yolngu languages, but people affiliated with Djinang may also speak Djinba N97, Dhuwal N198 or Dhuwala N199.

The language name is an archaic form of the demonstrative 'this', still used in Wulaki dialect N95 (Waters 1989: xiv).

Clans (with moieties) affiliated with Djinang language include: Marrangu (Djuwing) N116.Q; Marrungun (Djuwing) N116.R; Manyarring (Djuwing) N87; Wulaki (Yirritjing) N95; Djadiwitjibi (Yirritjing) N206; Mildjingi (Yirritjing) N204 and Balmbi (Yirritjing) N94 (Waters, 1989:11, 249).

 

References: 
  • Greatorex, John. 2014. Yolngu Matha Dictionary http://yolngudictionary.cdu.edu.au/
  • 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.
  • Waters, Bruce E. 1989. Djinang and Djinba - a grammatical and historical perspective: Pacific Linguistics C-114. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.
Status: 
Confirmed
Location
State / Territory: 
NT
Location information: 

Djinang is spoken by approximately 200 Aboriginal people living in the vicinity of Ramingining (the government spelling - the phonetic [sic] spelling is Raman.gining), a settlement on the mainland, about 20 km south of the Crocodile Islands (Waters 1989).

From the Crocodile Islands and Milingimbi south to the middle reaches of the Blyth River; east to Glyde Inlet and the true Glyde River which originates in the Arafura Swamp (Tindale 1974).

 

Maps: 
-
Links

Search MURA people®

Search MURA language®

Search OZBIB

Search Trove

Search Worldcat

PDF icon Oates_N94.1.pdf
Tindale 1974
OLAC
SIL
Living Archive of Aboriginal Languages
Djinang ga Wurlaki documentation project
Djinang online dictionary
Programs
Activities: 

SIL produced several readers in 80's. Bible translation work has been carried out by Wycliffe Bible Translators.

People: 
Michael Christie, Bjorn Jernudd, Bruce Waters
Indigenous organisations: 

Batchelor Institute https://www.batchelor.edu.au/

Speakers
Year Source Speaker numbers
1975Oates-
1984Senate-
1990Schmidt200 - 300
1996Census124
2001Census102
2004NILS1-
2005Estimate100
2006Census229
2011Census103
2014NILS2
2016Census115
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 Large (more than 200 pages) 4
Text Collection Medium (100-200 pages) 3
Grammar Large grammar (more than 200 pages) 4
Audio-visual More than 10 3
Manuscript note: 
tape transcription/field note available
Grammar: 

Waters, Bruce. 1984. A grammar of Djinang, Australian National University: MA. Waters. Bruce. 1989. Djinang and Djinba: a grammatical and historical perspective: Pacific Linguistics C114. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.

Dictionary: 

Waters, Bruce. 1983. An interim Djinang dictionary. Darwin: SIL. Waters, Bruce. Djinang dictionary, ASEDA 0009.

Classification
Source Family Group Sub-group Name Relationship
Ethnologue (2005) Pama-Nyungan Yuulngu Djinang Djinang Djinang [dialectes: Djadiwitjibi, Mildjingi, Wulaki, Balurbi, Murrungun, Manyarring.]
Dixon (2002)   YOLNGU SUBGROUP* Western Yolngu subgroup* Waters (1989) Djinang dialects Djinang dialects: (a) Wurlaki, Djardiwitjibi, Mildjingi, Balmbi; (b) Marrangu, Murrungun, Manyarring
Wurm (1994) Pama-Nyungan Yuulngu   Djinang  
Walsh (1981) Pama-Nyungan Yuulngu   Djinang  
Oates (1975) Pama-Nyungan Murngic Djinang Djinang  
Wurm (1972) Pama-Nyungan Murngic Djinang (Djariwidji) Djinang (Yandjinung, Wulaki)  
O'Grady, Voegelin and Voegelin (1966) Pama-Nyungan Murngic Djariwidji Jandjinung