Jaru

Index compiled with data collected by AUSTLANG

Data on the language

Alternatives names: Djaru, Djaro, Jaroo, Jarroo, Jarrou, Jarrau, Jaruru

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

(http://austlang.aiatsis.gov.au/main.php)

Classification: Pama-Nyungan language family, Ngumpin-Yapa group, Ngumpin subgroup

Main dialects:

According to Tsunoda (1981:3), Jaru dialects can be divided into two groups:

– Waral

– Njininj

The distinction between the dialects is largely based on lexicon.

Area: Jaru is an indigenous Australian language spoken in Western Australia (WA).

The affiliations of Jaru are principally based on Tsunoda’s study. The only significant variation is in the East, where Jaru affiliations extended further than indicated by Tsunoda. Birrindudu and Kirkimbie homesteads were associated with Jaru. In the Northwest the hills immediately to the East of Halls Creek mark the Northwestern limit of Jaru. Old Halls Creek was affiliated with Jaru. New Halls Creek is affiliated with Gija.

In the South, Ima-Ima Pool and the pools on Sturt Creek to the North of this were apparently associated with Djaru. In the Southeast, the changeover to Kartangarurru affiliations was based in the Browns Range (Harvey ASEDA 802).

According to Tindale (1974): East of Ramsay Range along Margaret River to the Mary River Junction; East from the headwaters of Christmas Creek, skirting the sand desert fringe eastward to Cummins Range, Sturt Creek Station, and the Northern Territory border; northward to Nicholson Station homestead, the headwaters of Ord River above the Dixon Range, keeping East of Alice Downs to Hall Creek and the Margaret River gorge.

Number of speakers :

The recent Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census estimated 353 speakers of Jaru.

Language vitality & transmission :

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

Sources & bibliography

Kimberley Language Resource Centre. Jaru Dictionary, ASEDA 0248. Kimberley Language Resource CentreTsunoda’s Jaru, ASEDA 0510.

Tsunoda, Tasaku. 1981. The Djaru language of Kimberley, Western Australia: Pacific Linguistics B78. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.

Maps

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

McConvell, Patrick. 1980. Hierarchical variation in pronominal clitic attachment in the eastern Ngumbin languages. In Contributions to Australian linguistics. eds. B Rigsby and P Sutton, 31-117. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.

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

McGregor, William 1990. A functional grammar of Gooniyandi. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

McGregor, William. 1993. Gunin/Kwini. Munich: Lincom Europa.

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

Tsunoda, Tasaku. 1981. The Djaru language of Kimberley, Western Australia. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.

Links

Katherine Regional Aboriginal Language Centre website: http://www.kathlangcentre.org.au/

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

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