Data collected by AUSTLANG

Data on the Warlpiri language

Main dialects: There appears to be several dialects of Warlpiri but it is not clear exactly how many. Laughren et al (1996) identifies seven major dialects of Warlpiri: western Warlpiri, sometimes called “Warrmarla” ; north-western Warlpiri called “Ngardilypa”; south-western Warlpiri called “Wawulya”; central-northern Warlpiri called “Warnayaka”; southern Warlpiri referred to as “Ngaliya”; Lander River Warlpiri, sometimes called “Yarlpiri” as well as Warlpiri; and the most eastern Hansen River Warlpiri, often referred to as “Wakirti Warlpiri”.

See Kimberley Handbook for a different opinion on Warlpiri dialects.

Classification: Macro-Pama-Nyungan, Ngarga languages

Area: The principal Warlpiri-speaking communities are Yuendumu (Yurntumu), Lajamanu, Nyirrpi and Willowra (Wirliyajarrayi) (Laughren 1996:1).

Lander Creek below Mount Leichhardt; sand plain north of Mounts Turner, Saxby, and Doreen; northwest to beyond the Granites and Mount Frederick; northern boundary along 19° latitude and Winnecke Creek. Western boundaries are with the Ngardi and Djaru tribes close to the Western Australia border (Tindale 1974).

Number of speakers: The 2005 National Indigenous Languages Survey Report estimated approximately 3000 speakers of Warlpiri, whereas the 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census counted 2507 speakers.

Language vitality & transmission: Although one of the major Australian aboriginal languages in terms of number of speakers, Warlpiri is sometimes considered as a lightly endangered language. Warlpiri is classified “vulnerable” by UNESCO and “safe” by Austlang.

Media: Bush Mecanics, website launched by the Warlpiri Media Association dedicated to the “astounding indigenous ingenuity”.

The movie “Samson & Delilah” directed by Warwick Thorton has mainly been shot in Warlpiri.

Samson & Delilah official website

Sources & Bibliography

See the Austlang website for a complete bibliography about Warlpiri

Laughren, Mary. & Hoogenraad, Robert. 1996. A Learner’s Guide to Warlpiri. Alice Springs: IAD Press.

Nash, David. 1986. Topics in Warlpiri grammar: Outstanding Dissertations in Linguistics Series. New York: Garland.

Simpson, Jane. 1983. Aspects of Warlpiri morphology and syntax. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (PhD).

Swart, Steve. 1996. Warlpiri Dictionary.

Map

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

Links

AUSTLANG website