4.5.7 PALYKU
Location: Head of the De Grey and Oakover Rivers; north-east of the Upper Fortescue River.
1. Names of the language and different spellings that have been used:
Bailgu
Bailko
Balgo
Baljgu
Boolgoo
Pulgo
Brandenstein (1972c): Nyiyaparli is a dialect of Palyku, and so all entries in section 4_5_6 are also relevant here.
2. Classification of the language:
O'Grady, Voegelin and Voegelin (1966): Ngayarda
Oates (1975): far-western subgroup of Western Desert
Identification codes: AIATSIS:A.55
Capell (1963):A.02
Oates (1975):56.11b
Brandenstein (1973-87): Nyiyaparli is a dialect of Palyku and Palyku is a Western Desert language
3. Dialects of the language:
O'Grady, Voegelin and Voegelin (1966) list Palyku-Panyjima as dialects of the same language.
Brandenstein (p.c.) suggests that there are three dialects: Nyiyaparli (see 4_5_6), Nirrikudhu and Parndikurra.
4. Present number and distribution of speakers:
Several speakers at Port Hedland, Marble Bar and Nullagine
5. People who have worked extensively on the language:
Brandenstein (1964 -72)
6. Practical spelling system:
None, but the Banyjima spelling system may be used.
7. Word lists:
O'Grady (1959)
8. Texts:
Brandenstein (1972c)
9. Grammar or sketch grammar:
None
10. Language programmes:
None
11. Language learning material:
None
12. Literature in the language:
None
13. Material available:
(see section 5 (Bibliography) for annotations on the following works)
Bates, D.M. (n.d.96) Native vocabularies - Pilbara Magisterial District, typescript copy of MS, Section 12, 2D, ANL-MS365-49/46-78
Brandenstein, C.G. von (1965e) Interim report (4) [to AIAS] on fieldwork in north-west Western Australia, 15 September-15 October 1965.
Brandenstein, C.G. von (1965f) Interim report (5) [to AIAS] on fieldwork in north-west Western Australia, 15 October-15 November 1965.
Brandenstein, C.G. von (1966d) Report [to AIAS] on fieldwork 1-31 July 1966.
Brandenstein, C.G. von (1967b) Linguistic routine report, September 1967.
Brandenstein, C.G. von (1972c) The symbolism of the north-western Australian zigzag design, pp.223-238 in Oceania, Vol.42, no.3.
Brandenstein, C.G. von (1972c) Narratives from the north-west of Western-Australia in Nyiyaparli, language of the Palygu, Vol.1 - Narratives, Vol.2 - Songs, Vol.3 - Vocabulary (about 500 pages and an audio-disc).
Brandenstein, C.G. von (n.d.e) [Unpublished material].
Dench, A.C. (1983a) Pilbara pronoun reconstructions, ts.
Dench, A.C. (1985d) Pilbara demonstrative reconstructions, ts.
Geytenbeek, B.B., H. Geytenbeek and J. Marsh (1971) Report on the survey of languages in the Port Hedland area, Summer Institute of Linguistics, [Darwin].
O'Grady, G.N. (1957) 'Statistical investigation into an Australian language', pp.283-312 in Oceania, Vol.27, no.4.
O'Grady, G.N. (1959) Significance of the circumcision boundary in Western Australia, BA thesis, University of Sydney .
O'Grady, G.N. (1966) 'Proto-Ngayarda phonology', pp.71-130 in Oceanic Linguistics, no.5.
Palmer, K. (1977) Tradition, change and culture contact: Aboriginal oral traditions from the north-west of Western Australia, MS.
Radcliffe-Brown, A.R. (n.d.) North-west division short vocabulary, ts.
Tindale, N.B. (1953a) Recordings at the North-West of Australia (wax cylinder).
Tindale, N.B. (1957) Recordings at the North-West of Australia (wax cylinder).
Wordick, F.J.F. (1977b) [Letter to M.Walsh, Linguistics Research Officer, AIAS], ts.
Go Back to Contents