User:FropFrop/Draft Western Desert languages list

I constructed the table below from the ground up, using a variety of sources to check what are well attested languages and peoples. The three which I relied upon the most are:


 * AIATSIS's AustLang.[]
 * Bouckaert's & Bowern's 2018 paper. See the paper's supplementary material for why they think their list of Wati dialects is reliable.
 * Dixon's 2005 book and his given list of the Western Desert language's dialects.

Other sources were used, for example the Mobile Language Team's and various language centres' websites.

When I finished the table I checked what languages and peoples were included in the Western Desert language's list and what was missing from the new table. I then checked if any that I had missed were well supported or not. So I have done my best not to miss any but I wouldn't be surprised if some number slipped through.

Quite a few in the current list are poorly supported, or have been proved to be fictions. I've tried to provide reasoning for each rejection in the table here: []

Of additional interest
Paper on Western Desert sign language: https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/ielapa.807502779767538

Paper that compares Manyjilyjarra and Manytjilytjarra.

Luritja Dialect & Kukatja (C7)
Note: Copy and pasted from Luritja:

According to Kenny (2013), "The people living to the immediate west of the Western Aranda called themselves Kukatja or Loritja at the turn of the twentieth century. Today they call themselves Luritja or Kukatja-Luritja when referring to their ancestry and history.

Martu Wangka
Included under Martu Wangka are: Manyjilyjarra, Kartujarra, Warnman, Putijarra, and Kiyajarra.

Included under Martu Wangka are: Manyjilyjarra and Kartujarra. (Warnman and Putijarra are also languages represented at Jigalong, but require separate treatment).

Note: Laurent (2011) gives Mardu. The AIATSIS code of A86: Martu Wangka notes that this is another name for the Martu people of the Western Desert.

Individual Dialects
Antakarinya language (aka. Antakarinja or Antikirinya)

Kokatha language

Kuwarra; Kuwarra people
 * Wikipedia does not have a page for this language/dialect, only the people.

Mantjintjarra language; Mantjintjarra
 * Laurent (2011) gives Manytjilytjara which is a very rarely used spelling. It gives the AIATSIS code of A33, which identifies it as Mantjintjarra.
 * Wikipedia does not have a page for this language/dialect, only the people; Mantjintjarra language redirects to Western Desert Language.

Nakako language; Nakako
 * Laurent (2011) gives Wanudjara. It gives the AIATSIS code of A32, which identifies it as Nakako.
 * Wikipedia does not have a page for this language/dialect, only the people; Nakako language redirects to Western Desert Language.

Ngaatjatjarra dialect
 * AIATSIS code A43.

Ngalia language; Ngalia (Western Desert)
 * AIATSIS code C2.
 * Wikipedia does not have a page for this language/dialect, only the people; Ngalia language directs to Western Desert Language.

Yankunytjatjara
 * Purported by the Mobile Language Team

Ngarlawangka NOTE: Is it considered a member of the Western Desert Language block?
 * Now known as Ngarla.
 * Laurent (2011) gives AIATSIS code of A48.
 * AIATSIS notes that "...Ngarla A48, previously known as Ngarlawangka."


 * Nyanganyatjara
 * Pintupi
 * Pitjantjatjara
 * Tjalkanti
 * Wangkathaa
 * Wawula


 * Yulparitja

Not Supported

 * Nana
 * Wikipedia gives it as an alternate name for the Ngaanyatjarra and the Pini people.
 * The Pini language redirects to Spurious languages, giving [] as a source.
 * Alternate name for Birniridjara, AITSIS code A25, classified as 'unconfirmed'.


 * Ngaayatjarra


 * Spinifex People
 * Laurent (2011) gives their language as 'Ngalea Wirangu' which AITSIS categorises as two different languages. AITSIS gives Ngalia as a Western Desert language but not Wirangu.
 * Ngalia has been added to the list of dialects.
 * The Mobile Language Team states that Wirangu is not a Western Desert Language

AIATSIS List
Antikirinya / Antakirinja C5; Birniridjara A25; Bunggura A28; Dargudi A56; Djalgandi A26; Gula A21; Kartujarra A51; Kiyajarra A52; Kokatha C3; Kukatja A68; Kukatja C7; Kurajarra A85; Kuwarra A16; Luritja C7.1; Maduwongga A6; Mandjindja A33; Mangu A34; Manyjilyjarra A51.1; Marawa A22; Martu Wangka A86; Mudalga A27; Murunitja A8; Nakako A32; Nanadjara A37; Nangadadjara A17; Ngaanyatjarra A38; Ngaatjatjarra A43; Ngadawanga A30; Ngalia C2; Njangadjadjara A83; Pindiini A102; Pintupi C10; Pitjantjatjara C6; Putijarra A54; Tjeraridjal A7; Tjupan A31; Waljen A11; Wangkajunga A87; Wangkatha A12; Wangkatja A103; Warnman A62; Wawula A29; Wilyara A20; Wirdinya A49; Wirdjaragandja A82; Yankunytjatjara C4; Yulparija A67.

In 'Australian Languages - Their Nature and Development'
Reference

Warnman

Yulparitja

Manjtjiltjara (or Martu Wangka)

Kartutjarra

Kukatja

Pintupi

Luritja

Ngaatjatjarr[a]

Ngaanjatjarra

Wangkatha

Wangatja

Ngaliya

Pitjantjatjarra

Yankuntjatjarra

Kukarta

In 'The origin and expansion of Pama–Nyungan languages across Australia'
Reference

Kartujarra

Kukatja

Manjiljarra

Martu Wangka

Ngaanyatjarra

Pintupi-Luritja

Pitjantjatjara

Wangkajunga

Wangkatja

Warnman

Yulparija

Bad source, initially used but contains many problems
One of many sources