The Mantharta languages are a group of four Aboriginal languages traditionally spoken in the north-west of Western Australia. They are Jiwarli W28, Thiin W25, Warriyangka W22 and Tharrkari W21. The languages are closely related genetically, although they show some interesting structural and lexical differences (2015:5).
Thiin is a Pama Nyungan language of the Mantharta group, along with Jiwarli W28, Warriyangka W22 and Tharrkari W21 (Austin, 1991:20). Jiwarli and Thiin may be dialects of one language (Austin, p.c., in Thieberger, 1993:106). Bowern classifies Thiin in the Kanyara group, with Thalanyji W26, Payungu W23, Purduna W24 and Pinikura W34 (in press, 2021).
Austin, Peter. 2015. A Reference Grammar of the Mantharta Languages, Western Australia. Draft version 3.7. Unpublished MS.
Head of Henry River; Barlee Range; Frederick River; on Marillana (Tindale 1974).
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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).
Austin, Peter. 1987. A reference grammar of the Mantharta languages, Western Australia, ms.
