Rimanggudinhma is the name of one of the two clans associated with this language. Three languages, Mbarrumbathama Y136, Rimanggudinhma and Morrobolam Y55, form a genetic subgroup of Paman known as Lamalamic. 'This subgroup is defined by shared innovations in phonology and morphology, specifically the development of voicing contrasts in trills, the setup of verbal inflections, and a number of innovative forms in nominal morphology. Within this subgroup, Umbuygamu and Lamalama form a phonologically innovative branch, while Rumanggudinhma forms a more conservative branch' (Verstraete, 2018:1-4).
Confusingly, Sommer's sketch grammar of Rimanggudinhma is entitled Koko Warra (1999). Godman says that Koko Wara Y80 is not closely related to Rimanggudinhma; despite sharing many lexical forms with Koko Wara, its verbal paradigm resembles Guugu Yimidhirr Y82 (1993:8).
Dixon groups Kuku-Wara Y80 with Rimang-Gudinhma (Y195) in his 'Lama sub-group' (2002:xxxii). Rigsby notes that the name 'Kuku Warra / Gugu Warra' is one with shifting reference, with the sense 'strange, not intelligible' (2005:138), and applied to languages that one could not understand, the opposite to Gugu Mini Y94.
In modern times people associated with this language variety often identify as Lamalama, along with Y236: Yintyingka, Y50: Umpithamu, Y55: Morrobolam and Y136: Mbarrumbathama.
Dinner Creek and Five Mile River systems, abutting Morrabalama and Umpithamu to the north and Kuku Thaypan to the south (Sutton 2007 p.c.). The Bighurrnggudinh clan has countries to the north along the Annie River, starting at Ngawal where it has a shared 'company' interest. Their southern neighbours along the Five Mile River is the Badhorrnga clan, who spoke a variety of the same language - the latter was called Port Stewart Lamalama by Ken Hale (Rigsby 1992:356).
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).
Godman, Irene. 1993. A sketch grammar of Rimanggudinhma: A language of the Princess Charlotte Bay region of Cape York Peninsula, University of Queensland: BA (Hons).
Sommer, Bruce. 1999b. Koko Warra. Townsville: Ethnografix Australia. pMS 5919.
