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Dhay’yi
Data collected by AUSTLANG
Data on Dhay’yi
Alternative names: Dayi, Daii, Dha’yi
Main dialects: Two clans – Djarrwark and Dhalwangu – are recognized as Dhay’yi speaking clans. Bowern (2007 p.c.) says the Dhalwangu speak their own dialect although it remains uncertain whether the Djarrwark have their own dialect or not.
Classification: Pama-Nyungan, Yuulngu languages
Area: Australia, Northern Territory, shores of Blue Mud Bay north to the Koolatong River and inland to an important source of implement stone at Ngilipidji (Tindale 1974).
Number of speakers: A 2005 National Indigenous Languages Survey Report estimated 3 speakers, not including Dhalwangu (100 speakers, NILS estimate) whereas a 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census counted 175 speakers of Dhay’yi and 53 of Dhalwangu.
Language vitality & transmission:
The NILS and the UNESCO provide no information about the vitality of Dhay’yi. Yet it is fair to assume that Dhay’yi is highly endangered.
Bibliography
Tindale, Norman. 1974. Tribal Boundaries in Aboriginal Australia. Canberra: Division of National Mapping, Department of National Development.
Heath, Jeffrey. 1980. Basic materials in Ritharngu: grammar, texts and dictionary. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.
Morphy, Frances. 1983. « Djapu, a Yolngu dialect ». In Handbook of Australian languages Vol. 3, eds. RMW Dixon and B Bake, 1-188. Canberra: ANU Press.
See Austlang website for a complete bibliography on Dhay’yi
See Austlang website for a complete bibliography about Dhay’yi
Links
AUSTLANG website
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