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Banyjima
Index compiled with data collected by AUSTLANG
Data on the language
Alternatives names: Bandjima, Banjima, Panytyima, Pandjima, Panjima, Panjtjima, Panyjima
For additional names and alternative spellings, see the AUSTLANG website.
Main dialects:
According to Dench (1991:126), speakers recognise two named dialects of Banyjima:
– Pantikura
– Mijaranypa
Classification: Pama-Nyungan language family, Ngayarta group
Area: Banyjima is an aboriginal language spoken in Western Australia (WA).
Originally spoken in the tablelands of the Hamersley Range, today most of the speakers of the language live in the coastal town of Onslow. Others live in Roebourne and other Pilbara towns, and on a number of pastoral leases in the area (Dench 1991: 125).
According to Tindale (1974), Banyjima is spoken on the upper plateau of the Hamersley Range South of the Fortescue River, East to Weediwolli Creek near Marillana, South to the vicinity of Rocklea, on the upper branches of Turee Creek East to the Kunderong Range (Tindale 1974).
According to Palmer in Sutton (1995:99), Banyjima is spoken East of Kurrama, Wittenoom and Tom Price.
Number of speakers:
The recent Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census estimated 100 speakers of Banyjima.
Vitality & transmission:
Presently, Banyjima is extinct (endangerment level 0), according to AUSTLANG.
Sources & bibliography
Dench, Alan 1991, Panyjima. In The handbook of Australian languages Vol 4, eds. RMW
Dixon and B Blake Oxford University Press: Melbourne.
Dench, Alan. Panyjima, ASEDA 0375.
Wangka Maya PALC.2001. Banyjima wordlist. South Hedland, WA: Wangka Maya PALC.
Maps
Dench, Alan. 1995. Martuthunira, a language of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. Douglas, Wilfrid. 1981. Watjarri. In Handbook of Australian languages Vol. 2, eds. Dixon RMW and B Blake, 196-272. Canberra: ANU Press.
Tindale, Norman. 1974. Tribal Boundaries in Aboriginal Australia. Canberra: Division of National Mapping, Department of National Development.
Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre. 2001. Kariyarra wordlists & sketch grammar. South Hedland, WA: Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre.
Links
Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre website: http://www.wangkamaya.org.au/
AUSTLANG website: http://austlang.aiatsis.gov.au/main.php
Ethnologue webpage: http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=pnw
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have more information on this language: contact@sorosoro.org