Information concerning Arnhem Land languages

Where are Arnhem Land languages spoken?

These are aboriginal languages spoken in Australia

Total number of speakers (estimates)

We do not have a reliable estimate of the global number of speakers at this time.

Classification

This group includes 17 languages :

Burarran or Maningrida Group

Burarra

Djeebbana

Guragone

Nakara

Iwaidjan Group

Amurdak

Marrgu

Wurrugu

Warrkbi  Sub-group

Garig

Ilgar

Iwaidja

Goulburn Islands Sub-group

Manangkari

Mawng

Giimbiyu or Mangerrian Group

Arri

Mangerr

Urningangga

Isolats:

Gaagudju (alternative name : gagadu) : extinct

Umbugarla: extinct

Comments on the classification of the Arnhem Land languages :

The classification of these languages in the same group is controversial, it it highly likely that this grouping is based purely on geographical factors (all these languages are spoken in neighbouring zones). We have based our classification on the work of Mc Convell and Evans (1977)

Are the Arnhem Land languages endangered?

Like many aboriginal languages of Australia, we can assume that these languages are endangered. We do not currently have precise estimates concerning the vitality of these languages.

Sources:

McConvell, Patrick and Nicholas Evans. (eds.) Archaeology and Linguistics: Global Perspectives on Ancient Australia. Melbourne: Oxford University Press (1997).