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Kaanju
Index compiled with data collected by AUSTLANG
Data on the language
Alternatives names: Kaantju, Kanju, Kandju
For additional names and alternative spellings, see the AUSTLANG website.
Main dialects:
Oates (1975:284) lists North Gaandju and South Gaandju as separate dialects.
Classification: Pama Nyungan language family, Paman group, Northern Paman subgroup
Area: Kaanju is an Australian language spoken in the Queensland state (QLD): from the present town of Coen to North of the old Moreton Post office (about 200 km) (Thompson 1988:2); headwaters of Archer River, on tableland from between Ebagoola and Coen North to heads of Lockhart, Pascoe, and Batavia rivers, East to coastward slope of McIlwraith Rang, West to Geikie Range and edge of plateau (Tindale 1974).
Number of speakers:
In 2004, the National Indigenous Language Survey (NILS) estimated 1000 speakers of Kaanju. The 2005 NILS survey estimated 2 speakers of Kaanju.
Language vitality & transmission :
On a scale of 0 to 5, the National Indigenous Language Survey (NILS) classifies Kaanju as a level 1 language, i.e. critically endangered.
Maps
Thompson, David. 1988. Lockhart River ‘sand beach’ language: an outline of Kuuku Ya’u and Umpila. Darwin: Summer Institute of Linguistics.
Tindale, Norman. 1974. Tribal Boundaries in Aboriginal Australia. Canberra: Division of National Mapping, Department of National Development.
Links
Austlang webpage on Kaanju: http://austlang.aiatsis.gov.au/main.php
Ethnologue webpage on Kaanju: http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=kbe
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have more information on this language: contact@sorosoro.org