Data collected by AUSTLANG

Data on the language

Alternatives names: Watjarri, Wadjari, Wadjeri, Wajeri, Wajjari, Wajari, Wadgaree

Other names or spellings exist for this language. See Austlang website.

Classification: Pama-Nyungan family, Kartu group.

Main dialects: There appears to be several dialects of Wajarri but it is not clear how many dialects of Wajarri have existed in the past.

According to Vaso Elefsiniotis, from the Irra Wangga – Geraldton Language Programme (2007 p.c.), the current understanding is that there are five acknowledged dialects of Wajarri: Byro Wajarri in the east around Byro plains; Boolardy or Central Wajarri around Boolardy/Wooleen stations; Ngunuru Wajarri around Belele station; Birdungu Wajarri to the north-east of Boolardy, where the Murchison and Gascoyne Rivers begin; and Nharnu Wajarri.

According to Marmion (1996:6-7) there are at least three dialects of Wajarri. The dialect which covers most of the Wajarri area appears unnamed (or sometimes simply referred to as Southern Wajarri). The other two are: Nhugarn and Birdungu. However, Marmion (2005 p.c.) later says that Birdungu is a compass term used to refer to people from around Meekatharra who are not Wajarri (or at least, not central Wajarri). This contradicts the use of the term Birdungu Wajarri above.

Elefsiniotis comments that Birdungu is the name given by others to the Wajarri people who traditionally lived at the eastern or northeastern boundaries of the Wajarri area, depending on the observer’s perspective.

Area: Wajarri is an aboriginal language spoken in Western Australia (WA): the area originally inhabited by the Wajarri appears to have extended south from between the Wooramel and Gascoyne Rivers to between the Murchison River and the Geraldton-Mt. Magnet road. On the West, it spread towards and near the coastal highway, and on the East, it extended to around Mileura Station (Marmion 1996:2).

North to the hills overlooking the head of the Lyons River, Teano Range, Mount Isabella, Waldburg Range; on upper Gascoyne River west of Three Rivers; at Erivilla and Milgun; south to Cheangwa and the Roderick and upper Sanford rivers (Tindale 1974).

Number of speakers:

The Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census estimated 86 speakers of Wajarri.

Language vitality & transmission:

Wajarri is critically endangered (endangerment grade 1), according to Austlang.

Sources & bibliography

Douglas, Wilfrid. 1981. Watjarri. In Handbook of Australian languages, vol. 2, eds. RMW Dixon and B Blake, 197-272. Canberra: ANU Press.

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

Yamaji Language Centre. 1992. Wajarri wangga = Wajarri words. Geraldton, WA: Yamaji Language Centre.

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.

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=wbv

Wikipedia page on Wajarri: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wajarri_language