4.6.10 WANGKAJUNGA
Location: South and West of Lake Gregory (Oates).
1. Names of the language and different spellings that have been used:
Wanggadjunggu (Berndt)
Wangkajunga
Wangkajungka
Wangkatjungka (Hansen)
2. Classification of the language:
O'Grady, Voegelin and Voegelin (1966): not mentioned
Identification codes:AIATSIS:none
Capell (1963):none
Oates (1975):56.10b
Tindale says Wangkajunga is an eastern horde of Walmajarri.
McGregor (1988) says it refers to a Western Desert dialect which is quite similar to Yulparija and Kukatja. Some speakers of the latter claim that they speak the former, when in fact it appears that they are responding to the meaning of the term (i.e. they are claiming to speak 'straight', or correctly). This, together with the fact that many earlier surveys (such as Tindale's) do not include this language/dialect group name, perhaps suggests that the term is a recent innovation as a dialect name.
3. Dialects of the language:
Desert languages have an avoidance style as well as the everyday style.
No other information.
4. Present number and distribution of speakers:
Fitzroy Crossing, Christmas Creek (Wangkatjungka Community), Bayulu, by at least 100 full speakers.
5. People who have worked intensively to record the language:
William McGregor (from 1982, at Fitzroy Crossing and Christmas Creek)
6. Practical spelling system:
The South Kimberley orthography would be suitable, as would the system used for Manjiljarra.
7. Word lists:
Angelo (1985)
Hansen (1984)
8. Texts:
Some collected by McGregor.
Students of the Pundulmurra literacy course have produced stories in Wangkajunga.
9. Grammar or sketch grammar:
None
10. Language programmes:
A language maintenance programme was begun in the Christmas Creek School in 1987.
11. Language learning material:
None
12. Literature in the language:
Many small books and other literature have been produced for language programmes. Not all are listed here.
Angelo (1985)
13. Material available:
(see section 5 (Bibliography) for annotations on the following works)
Angelo, M. (1985) Wangkajunga picture dictionary, MS.
Hansen, K.C. (1984) 'Communicability of some Western Desert communilects', pp.1-112 in J. Hudson and N. Pym, (eds) Language Survey, Work papers of SIL/AAB, B-11, SIL/AAB, Darwin.
Hudson, J. and W. McGregor (1986) How to spell words in South Kimberley languages, Catholic Ed/ KLRC.
McGregor, W.B. (1982) Fieldnotes on Wangkajunga, MS.
Peile, A.R. (1972a) Linguistic routine report, January 1972.
Peile, A.R. (1972c) Linguistic routine report, May 1972.
Peile, A.R. (1972d) Linguistic routine report, November 1972.
Peile, A.R. (n.d.f) Transcriptions of audiotapes: Gugadja, some Wonggadjunga, MS.
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