Data collected by AUSTLANG

Data on the language

Alternatives names: Maringarr, Marringarr, Maringar, Mari’ngar, Muringar, Murrinnga, Muringa, Marengar

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

Classification: Western Daly family

Area:

Marri Ngarr is an aboriginal language spoken in the Australian Northern Territory (NT) around the Moyle River, near Port Keats (Tryon 1974).

The general association area was the swamp and adjacent higher country on the southern side of the Moyle, from about 10kms upstream of the river mouth to the junction with Tom Turner’s Creek. A smaller area on the northern side of the Moyle was also associated with Marri Ngarr (Harvey ASEDA 802).

Number of speakers:

The Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census estimated 8 speakers of Marri Ngarr.

Language vitality & transmission:

Austlang provides no precise data on the endangerment status of Marri Ngarr, but the language is considered close to extinction.

Maps

Harvey, Mark. 2008. Non-Pama-Nyungan Languages: land-language associations at colonization (ASEDA 802).

Links

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

Wadeye Aboriginal Language Centre ressources : http://sydney.edu.au/arts/indigenous_song/wadeye/language_groups/1

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