Arabana language facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arabana
Arabana-Wangkangurru
An Arabana man making fire, c. 1904
Region	South Australia; west side Lake Eyre to Stuart Range, Maree, Port Augusta
Ethnicity	Arabana people, Wongkanguru
Native speakers	31  (2021 census)
Language family	Pama–Nyungan Karnic Arabana
Dialects	Arabana Wangganguru Pilta-Palta Wangkakupa Midlaliri Mikiri-nganha
AIATSIS	L13 Arabana (cover term), L27
Arabana is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
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Arabana or Arabuna /ˈʌrəbʌnə/ is an Australian Aboriginal language of the Pama–Nyungan family, spoken by the Wongkanguru and Arabana people.

The language is in steep decline, with an estimated 250 speakers according to 2004 NILS, to just 21 speakers found in the 2006 census.

Geographic distribution

Arabana is spoken at Neales River on the west side of Lake Eyre west to the Stuart Range; Macumba Creek south to Coward Springs; at Oodnadatta, Lora Creek, Lake Cadibarrawirracanna, and The Peake. Their boundary with the Kokatha People to their west is marked by the margin of the scarp of the western tableland near Coober Pedy.

Dialects

Arabana has three dialects: Piltapalta, which Hercus refers to as "Arabana Proper", Wangkakupa, and Midhaliri. Wangganguru was also considered a dialect.

Phonology

Most of the nasals and laterals are allophonically prestopped.

Arabana uses the three vowel sounds, /a/, /i/, and /u/, as typically used in other Aboriginal Australian languages.