Data collected by AUSLANG

Data on the language

Alternatives names: Alyawarra, Alyawarr, Alyawarre, Aljawara, Iliaura, Yowera

Other names or spellings are used for this language. See Austlang website.

Classification: Pama Nyungan family, Arandic group, Aranda subgroup

Area:

Alyawarr is an aboriginal language spoken in the Australian Northern Territory (NT), in an area roughly bounded by Hatches Creek, Utopia, MacDonald Downs and Ooratippra (Yallop 1977:3).

Sandover, Bundey, Ooratippra, and Fraser creeks; Mount Swan, northern face of Hart Range, Plenty River north and west of Ilbala, Jervois Range, Mount Playford, Elkedra River; at MacDonald Downs and Huckitta (Tindale 1974).

The general territorial association was to the southeastern drainages of the Davenport Ranges and thence eastwards to Argadargada waterhole. Eastward limit of associations in the Argadargada waterhole area where changed to Ayerrereng. Northern limit of associations along the drainage divide in the Davenport ranges from Skinner Creek to Yaddanilla Creek. Canteen Creek was associated with Wakaya. Western limit of associations was Skinner Creek drainage. Murray Downs was associated with Alyawarr. Ali Curung was associated with Kaytetye (Harvey ASEDA 802).

Number of speakers :

The National Indigenous Languages Survey (Nils) reported around 1000 speakers of Alyawarr in 2004. This number reached 1664 in 2006, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census.

Language vitality & transmission :

Alyawarr is considered as a « strong / safe language » (endangerment grade: 5) by the National Indigenous Languages Survey (Nils).

Sources and bibliography

Green, Jenny. 1992. Alyawarr to English dictionary. Alice Springs: IAD Press.

Moore, David. 2004. Alyawarr picture dictionary. Alice Springs: IAD Press.

Yallop, Colin. 1977. Alyawarra: an Aboriginal language of central Australia. Canberra: AIAS.

Maps

Institute for Aboriginal Development Incorporated. 2002. Central Australian Aboriginal languages – current distribution (map). Alice Springs: IAD Press.

Harvey, Mark. 2008. Non-Pama-Nyungan Languages: land-language associations at colonisation (ASEDA 802).

Tindale, Norman. 1974. Tribal Boundaries in Aboriginal Australia. Canberra: Division of National Mapping, Department of National Development.

Links

Austlang webpage on Alyawarr : http://austlang.aiatsis.gov.au/main.php

Ethnologue.com page on Alyawarr: http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=aly

Papulu Apparr-Kari Language Centre website: http://www.aboriginalexperience.com.au/organisations/org_language_centre.html