Wilson River language

This article is about the language most recently spoken by the Galali/Wankumara. For 'old' language, see Bulloo River language.
Not to be confused with Wanggamala language.

Wilson River
Palpakunu
Native toAustralia
RegionWilson River (Queensland)
EthnicityWongkumara, Ngandangara, Punthamara, Kungadutji, ?Thereila
Extinctprobably by 2005[1]
Pama–Nyungan
Dialects
  • Punthamara (Bundhamara)[2]
  • Ngandangara (Yarumarra, Eromarra)
  • 'Modern' Wangkumara
  • Wangkumara (Galali)
  • Gungadidji
  • ?Mambangura/Thereila
Language codes
ISO 639-3Variously:
xpt – Punthamara
ntg – Ngantangarra
gdt – Kungardutyi
xwk – Wangkumara
eaa – Karenggapa
Glottologngur1261
AIATSIS[1]L30 Ngandangara, L26 Punthamara, L56 Yarrumada, L68 'Modern' Wangkumara, D71 Galali (McDonald & Wurm's Waŋkumara (Gaḷali)), L16 Gungadidji, L15 Karenggapa
ELP
Wangkumara is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger

The Wilson River language, also known as "Modern" Wankumara (Wangkumara/ Wanggumara), is an Australian Aboriginal language of the Karnic family. It was spoken by several peoples along the Wilson River in Queensland. Of these, the Wanggumara (Wangkumara) and Galali may have migrated from the Bulloo River and abandoned their language when they arrived. (See Bulloo River language.)

  1. ^ a b L30 Ngandangara at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies  (see the info box for additional links)
  2. ^ RMW Dixon (2002), Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development, p xxxvii