Martu Wangka belongs to the Western Desert branch of the Pama-Nyungan language family. It is spoken in Western Australia, in the Gibson and Great Sandy deserts in the communities of Jigalong, Parnngurr, Punmu, Purntawari, Newman and Nullagine. According to the 2016 census, there are about 1,080 speakers of Martu Wangka
Martu Wangka is also known as Jigalong, Mardo, Mardujara, Martuwangka, Wangkajunga, Targoodi or Targudi. Dialects include Kartujarra, Manyjilyjara, Puditara, Wangkajunga and Yulparitja.
Martu Wangka began to develop when the Kartudjara and the Manjiljarra tribes settled in Jigalong in the Western desest of Western Australian in the 1960s. Before then they spoke closely related Western Desert languages, and over time a new language, Martu Wangka, emerged that combines elements of the original languages, as well as other languages spoken in the area.
Martu Wangka is spoken by people of all ages. A dictionary of the language was published in 2005, and other publications and resources for learning the language have been produced since then.
Download an alphabet chart for Martu Wangka (Excel)
Information about Martu Wangka | Tower of Babel
Information about the Martu Wangka language
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martu_Wangka_dialect
https://www.ethnologue.com/21/language/mpj/
http://www.wangkamaya.org.au/pilbara-languages/martu-wangka-overview
https://collection.aiatsis.gov.au/austlang/language/a86
https://archive.org/details/rosettaproject_mpj_ortho-1
Alyawarr, Arrernte, Bundjalung, Dharawal, Dhuwal, Diyari, Djabugay, Djinang, Djinba, Gamilaraay, Gooniyandi, Gugadja, Guugu Yalandji, Guugu Yimithirr, Kala Lagaw Ya, Kalkatungu, Kaurna, Kuku Nyungkal, Kunjen, Kuuk Thaayorre, Lamalama, Martu Wangka, Ngaanyatjarra, Ngiyambaa, Nhangu, Noongar, Paakantyi, Pintupi, Pitjantjatjara, Warlpiri, Wemba Wemba, Wik-Mungkan, Wiradjuri, Yankunytjatjara, Yindjibarndi, Yolŋu
Languages written with the Latin alphabet
Page last modified: 23.04.21
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