Ngaanyatjarra dialect

Australian Aboriginal language

Ngaanyatjarra
Native to	Australia
Region	Western Australia; Warburton Ranges.
Ethnicity	Ngaanyatjarra
Native speakers	1,051 (2021 census)^[1]
Language family	Pama–Nyungan Wati Western Desert Ngaanyatjarra
Language codes
ISO 639-3	`ntj`
Glottolog	`ngaa1240`
AIATSIS^[2]	`A38`
ELP	Ngaanyatjarra
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Ngaanyatjarra (IPA: [ˈŋɐːn̪ɐt̪ɐrɐ]; also Ngaanyatjara, Ngaanjatjarra) is an Australian Aboriginal language. It is one of the Wati languages of the large Pama–Nyungan family. It is one of the dialects of the Western Desert Language and is very similar to its close neighbour Ngaatjatjarra, with which it is highly mutually intelligible.

Most Ngaanyatjarra people live in one of the communities of Warburton, Warakurna, Tjukurla, Papulankutja (Blackstone), Mantamaru (Jameson) or Kaltukatjara (Docker River). Some have moved to Cosmo Newbery and Laverton in the Eastern Goldfields area of Western Australia.

Origin of the name

The name Ngaanyatjarra derives from the word ngaanya 'this' which, combined with the comitative suffix -tjarra means 'having ngaanya (as the word for 'this')'. This distinguishes it from its near neighbour Ngaatjatjarra, which has ngaatja for 'this'.

Phonology

Orthography is in brackets.

Vowels

	Front	Back
High	i ⟨i⟩ iː ⟨ii⟩	ʊ ⟨u⟩ uː ⟨uu⟩
Low	a ⟨a⟩ aː ⟨aa⟩

Before alveolar consonants, the two vowels /i, a/ are pronounced as [ɪ, ɐ].
Before velar consonants, the three vowels /i, a, ʊ/ are pronounced as [ɪ, ɒ, o].
Vowel sounds are rhotacized when preceding retroflex consonants.

Consonants

	Peripheral		Laminal		Apical
	Labial	Velar	Dental	Palatal	Alveolar	Retroflex
Plosive	p ⟨p⟩	k ⟨k⟩	t̪ ⟨tj⟩	(c ⟨tj⟩)	t ⟨t⟩	ʈ ⟨ṯ⟩
Nasal	m ⟨m⟩	ŋ ⟨ng⟩	n̪ ⟨ny⟩	(ɲ ⟨ny⟩)	n ⟨n⟩	ɳ ⟨ṉ⟩
Lateral			l̪ ⟨ly⟩	(ʎ ⟨ly⟩)	l ⟨l⟩	ɭ ⟨ḻ⟩
Rhotic					ɾ~r ⟨r⟩
Approximant	w ⟨w⟩			j ⟨y⟩		ɻ ⟨ṟ⟩

Laminal stop sounds tend to vary, across the dialects of Ngaanyatjarra. In the Western dialects, they are always pronounced as dental, and in the Eastern dialects they are pronounced as palatal. Yet they are still orthographically transcribed the same as palatal sounds, as in the other dialects.
When occurring after nasal sounds, stop consonants become slightly voiced.

Sample text in Ngaanyatjarra

Watilu kurringka watjarru kulkultju kutipitjaku tjutipungka katuma mirrkatju pala tjurra wanti. Nyangka minymali mirrka paarnu tjunu wantirru tjarrpangu wiltjangka kankunarringu. Nyangku tjilku katjarralu pitjangu mirrka mantjirnu katingu ngalungu. Nyangka wataa mungangka pitjangku kurrinku.

Source Copyright https://omniglot.com/writing/ngaanyatjarra.htm

Notes

Citations

^ "SBS Australian Census Explorer". Retrieved 7 May 2023.
^ A38 Ngaanyatjarra at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

Sources

"2016 Census QuickStats: Laverton - Ngaanyatjarraku - Surrounds". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
Glass, Amee; Hackett, Dorothy (1979). Ngaanyatjarra texts. New Revised edition of Pitjantjatjara texts (1969). Canberra: Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies. ISBN 0-391-01683-0.
Glass, Amee; Hackett, Dorothy (2003). Ngaanyatjarra & Ngaatjatjarra to English Dictionary. Alice Springs: IAD press. ISBN 1-86465-053-2.
Douglas, W. H. (1964). An introduction to the Western Desert language: a pedagogical description of the Western Desert language, based on the dialect spoken at Warburton Ranges, Western Australia. Sydney: University of Sydney. pp. 10–28.

External links

ELAR archive of Western Desert Special Speech Styles Project

Pama–Nyungan languages

Paman languages

North	Adithinngithigh Andjingith Anguthimri Arritinngithigh Awngthim Luthigh Mbiywom Ndrangith Ngkoth Uradhi
Northeast	Umpila
Wik	Ayabadhu Kugu-Muminh Pakanha Wik-Me'nh Wik-Mungkan Wik-Ngathan Wik-Ompom
Lamalamic	Lamalama Morrobolam
Yalanjic	Barrow Point Gugu Yalandyi Guugu Yimidhirr
Southwest	Koko-Bera Kok Thawa Kunjen Ogh-Undjan Kuuk Thaayorre Kuuk Yak Yir-Yoront
Norman	Kurtjar Kuthant
Thaypan	Alungul Angkula Aghu Tharrnggala Ikarranggal Takalak Thaypan
Southern	Agwamin Mbara-Yanga Mbabaram Walangama
Other	Djabugay Flinders Island Gugadj Kok Narr Mbariman-Gudhinma Umbindhamu

Eastern Pama–Nyungan

Dyirbalic	Dyirbal Nyawaygi Warrgamay Wulguru
Maric	Bidjara Biri Kingkel Warrongo
Waka–Kabic	Barunggam Dappil Gabi-Gabi Gureng Gureng Wakawaka Wuliwuli
Durubalic	Guwar Janday Nunukul Turrbal
Gumbaynggiric	Kumbainggar Yaygir
Wiradhuric	Gamilaraay Ngiyambaa Wiradjuri
Yuin–Kuric	Awabakal Darkinjung Dharug Dhanggati Ngarigo Ngunnawal Tharawal Wormi
Gippsland	Dhudhuroa Gunaikurnai Pallanganmiddang
Other	Anewan Bandjalang Kalaw Lagaw Ya Yidiny

Southern Pama–Nyungan

Yotayotic

Kulinic

Kolakngat

Kulin	Bunurong Dja Dja Wurrung Ledji-Ledji Madhi-Madhi Wadi-Wadi Wathaurong Wemba Wemba Woiwurrung–Taungurung
Drual	Bungandidj Dhauwurd Wurrung Kuurn Kopan Noot

Kartu	Badimaya Malgana Nhanda Wajarri Yinggarda
Kanyara–Mantharta	Kanyara Mantharta
Ngayarta	Jurruru Kurrama Martuthunira Ngarla Ngarluma-Kariyarra Nhuwala Nyamal Nyiyaparli Panyjima Yindjibarndi Yinhawangka
Marrngu	Karajarri Mangala Nyangumarta

Northern Pama–Nyungan

Ngumpin–Yapa	Ngarrga Ngumbin
Warumungu	Warumungu
Warluwaric	Wagaya Bularnu Yindjilandji Warluwarra Yanyuwa
Kalkatungic	Kalkatungu Yalarnnga
Mayi	Mayi-Kulan Mayi-Kutuna Ngawun

Central Pama–Nyungan

Wati	Ngardi Wanman Western Desert
Arandic	Arrernte Kaytetye Lower Arrernte
Karnic	Arabana Diyari Mithaka Ngamini Yarluyandi Ngura Pitta Pitta Wanggamala Wangka-Yutjurru Wilson River Bundhamara new Wangkumara/Garlali Yandruwandha
Other	Baagandji Bulloo River old Wangkumara/Garlali Muruwari Yardli

Other Pama–Nyungan

Yolŋu	Dhaŋu Dhuwal Djaŋu Djinba Djinaŋ Ritharrŋu Nhaŋu
Other	Barranbinja Lower Burdekin

Macro-Pama–Nyungan?

Macro-Gunwinyguan?

Maningrida	Burarra Ndjébbana Gurr-goni Nakkara
Mangarrayi-Marran	Alawa Mangarrayi Marra Warndarrang Yugul
Gunwinyguan	Jawoyn Uwinymil Waray Kunwinjku Dalabon Kunbarlang Ngalakgan Rembarrnga Ngandi Nunggubuyu Anindilyakwa
Other	Gaagudju Kungarakany Wardaman Wagiman