Wangkajunga dialect
Variety of the Western Desert language / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wangkajunga is a dialect of the Western Desert language.
Wangkajunga | |
---|---|
Region | Northwest Western Australia |
Ethnicity | Wangkajunga |
Native speakers | 6 (2021 census)[1] |
Pama–Nyungan
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | mpj |
Glottolog | wang1288 |
AIATSIS[2] | A87 |
Traditionally, its speakers lived in the north-eastern section of the Great Sandy Desert and the Canning Stock Route, and to the south and west of Lake Gregory.[3] These are areas that are considered deserts but have many water holes that speakers travel between, two examples being Christmas Creek and Fitzroy Crossing. [4]: 1–2
While older speakers continue to use Wangkajunga as their primary language, younger speakers tend to understand Wangkajunga but use different languages in their daily lives.[4]: 18–19 For example, many younger speakers primarily use an English-based creole commonly referred to as the Fitzroy Valley Kriol.[5]
The name 'Wangkajunga' only appears to have emerged in the 1970s.[3] This name is said to have been based on the words wangka meaning 'talk' or 'word' and junga meaning 'correct' or 'straight,' so when put together, the language name essentially means 'the correct language.' It is important to note, however, that there is still some debate on how this name should be spelled, as it has been recorded differently by different linguists studying the language.[4]: 11