Data collected by AUSTLANG

Data on the Tiwi language

Alternatives names: Diwi (Capell conformists variant), Wonga:k (Iwaidja term), Wongak, Wunuk, Ni-mara, Woranguwe.

Classification: Isolate.

Comment: It has been suggested that Tiwi may be related to Gunwinyguan languages; but such a relation is yet to be proved. Generally considered as a language isolate.

Area: Australia, Northern Territory, Melville and Bathurst islands (Tiwi islands).

Number of speakers: The 2005 National Indigenous Languages Survey Report estimated the number of Tiwi speakers at approximately 2100, whereas the 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census counted 1716 speakers.

Language vitality & transmission:

Tiwi is sometimes considered one of the best transmitted Australian indigenous language, but there’s lack of trustworthy information on this transmission. In comparison to other Australian indigenous languages, Tiwi is probably less threatened: Unesco considers Tiwi to be a “vulnerable” language (endangerment level 1, the lesser grade); whereas Austlang gives no information on this matter.

Most of the younger speakers are bilingual and modern Tiwi incorporates numerous English loanwords.

Bibliography

Osborne, Charles. 1974. The Tiwi language : grammar, myths and dictionary of the Tiwi language spoken on Melville and Bathurst islands, northern Australia. Canberra: AIAS.

Lee, Jennifer, 1993 Ngawurranungurumagi nginingawila ngapangiraga: Tiwi – English dictionary. Bathurst Island, NT: Nguiu Nginingawila Literature Production Centre.

See Austlang website for a complete bibliography on Tiwi

Map

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

Links

Jilamara Arts & Crafts Association website

Tiwi Land Council website

Ethnologue.com entry for Tiwi

AUSTLANG website

Smith, Heide. 2008. Portrait of a People: The Tiwi of Northern Australia (Googlebook version)