Data collected by AUSTLANG

Data on the language

Alternatives names: Barimaia, Badimia, Bardimaia, Badimaia, Badimala, Parimaia, Padimaia, Badimara, Patimara

Other names or spellings are used for this language. See Austlang website.

Classification: Pama-Nyungan family, Kartu group.

Area: Badimaya is an indigenous language spoken in Western Australia (WA), in large area around Lake Moore – Ninghan Station – Paynes Find. The traditional area of the Badimaya includes a large area south-west of the area recorded by Tindale (1974), although Tindale does indicate ‘disputed territory’ in this region. However, the territory around Lake Moore/Ninghan is attested, as my informant, Mr Joe Benjamin, can trace back three generations of site ownership. Today, the Badimaya are scattered in towns throughout the Murchison Region in Mullewa, Cue, Mingenew, Mt Magnet, Yalgoo, Carnarvon, and Meekatharra. There are many people remaining of Badimaya descent, but if they speak a traditional language, it is usually Watjarri, otherwise known as the ‘Murchison’ or ‘Yamadyi’ language, which has become the region’s dominant language (Dunn 1988:20)

At Cue, Nannine, Mount Magnet; southwest almost to Yalgoo, northwestern boundary is on Sandford River divide (Tindale 1974).

Number of speakers:

The National Indigenous Languages Survey 2005 Report estimated 3 speakers of Badimaya.

Vitality & transmission:

Nowadays Badimaya is “no longer fully spoken” (endangerment grade 0), according to AUSTLANG.

Sources & bibliography

Dunn, Leone. 1988. Badimaya, a Western Australian language. In Papers in Australian Linguistics 17, eds. Austin, P, et al. 19-149. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.

Marmion, Doug (Yamadji Language Centre). Badimaya Dictionary, ASEDA 615.

Maps

Douglas, Wilfrid. 1976. The Aboriginal languages of the south-west of Australia, 2nd edition. Canberra: AIAS.

Douglas, Wilfrid. 1981. Watjarri. In Handbook of Australian languages Vol. 2, eds. Dixon RMW and B Blake, 196-272. Canberra: ANU Press.

Dunn, Leone. 1988. Badimaya, a Western Australian language. In Papers in Australian Linguistics 17, eds. P Austin, et al, 19-149. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.

Marmion, Doug. 1996. A description of the morphology of Wajarri. University of New England: BA (Hons).

Tindale, Norman. 1974. Tribal Boundaries in Aboriginal Australia. Canberra: Division of National Mapping, Department of National Development.

Links

Yamaji Language Centre website: http://www.ourlanguages.net.au/language-centres/item/yamaji-language-centre.html

AUSTLANG website: http://austlang.aiatsis.gov.au/main.php

Ethnologue webpage: http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=bia