Martu Wangka dialect

Martu Wangka
RegionNorthwest Western Australia
EthnicityKartudjara, Manjiljarra, Yulparija, Maduwongga
Native speakers
814 (2021 census)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3mpj
Glottologmart1256
AIATSIS[2]A86
ELP

Martu Wangka is a variety of the Western Desert language that emerged during the 20th century in Western Australia as several Indigenous communities shifted from their respective territories to form a single community.

It refers to both a dialect found at and around Jigalong, Western Australia[3]: iii [4] and many different dialect groups in the Gibson, Little Sandy and Great Sandy deserts.[4]

A dictionary of over 400 pages was published in 1992.[5] This dictionary has been described as "a volume of interim work-sheets" that was published to encourage the conservation of the language. An edited version was published in 2005.[3]: ii  An introduction to the structure and use of Martu Wangka was published in 2017.[6]

  1. ^ "SBS Australian Census Explorer". Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  2. ^ A86 Martu Wangka at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  3. ^ a b Burgman, Albert; Marsh, James; Hansen, Ken; Booth, Joshua (2005). Martu Wangka Dictionary and Topical Finderlist 2005 Draft. South Hedland, Western Australia: WANGKA MAYA Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre. ISBN 1875946152.
  4. ^ a b A86 Martu Wangka at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
  5. ^ Marsh, James (1992). Martu Wangka-English dictionary. Berrimah, Northern Territory, Australia: Australian Aborigines and Islanders Branch, Summer Institute of Linguistics. ISBN 086892346X.
  6. ^ Burgman, Albert (May 2017). Martu Wangka sketch grammar : An introduction to the structure and use of Martu Wangka. Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre: Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre. ISBN 9781921970146.