Data collected by AUSTLANG

Data on the language

Alternatives names: Karadjeri, Karadjari, Garadjiri, Gard-’are, Garadjara, Karajari, Karrajarri, Garadjeri, Karadhari.

For additional names and alternative spellings, see the AUSTLANG website.

Main dialects:

According to Kimberley Handbook, there are three dialects of Karajarri:

–          Najanaja or Murrkurt (Murgud) from the coast;

–          Nawurtu (Naurdu) from the inland;

–          Nangu (sometimes mistakenly spelled Ngangu) from the middle, between the inland and the coastal dialects

Classification: Pama-Nyungan language family, Marrngu group

Area: Karajarri is an aboriginal language spoken in Western Australia (WA): from Cape Villaret at the South point of Roebuck Bay, Southwest to Manari, a native meeting place 10 miles (16 km) North of Anna Plains Station (Jawinja); inland about 70 miles (110 km.); Lendjarkading, a known water on D. Munro’s Station block, Redjarth (two days walk inland), Undurmadatj, and Mount Phire, n.n. ‘Paijara are on the limits of the tribal area (Tindale 1974).

Number of speakers :

The Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census estimated approximately 28 speakers of Karajarri.

Language vitality & transmission :

According to AUSTLANG, karajarri is “no longer fully spoken” (endangerment level 0).

Sources & bibliography

Johnson, Edward. 1992. Karajarri sketch grammar, University of Sydney: BA (Hons)

Laves, Gerhardt. 1929a [Words among Australian Aborigines], Science n.s. 70, no.1823 : Supplement, xiv.

Laves, Gerhardt. 1929b Collecting native words, El Palacio 27(8/9), 290-1.

McKelson, Fr Kevin R. Karajarri Wordlist, ASEDA 0069.

Sands, Anna Kristina. 1989. A Grammar of Garadjari, Western Australia, Australian National University: BA (Hons).

Maps

McGregor, William. 1988. Handbook of Kimberley languages, volume 1: General information. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.

Sharp, Janet. 2004. Nyangumarta: A language of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.

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

Links

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

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