Emmiyangal facts for kids

The Emmiyangal people, sometimes called the Amijangal, are an Indigenous Australian group. They live in the Northern Territory part of Australia.

The Emmi Language

The Emmiyangal people speak a language called Emmi. It is part of the Marranj language group. Emmi is also in the larger Western Daly language family. People used to speak Emmi widely near Anson Bay. This area is southwest of Darwin. The Emmi language might be similar to Patjtjamalh. This means speakers of both languages might understand each other.

In the late 1990s, experts thought about 24 people spoke Emmi. By 2003, another expert, Barbara Grimes, said there were around 30 speakers. This shows it is a language with very few speakers left.

Emmiyangal Traditional Lands

The Emmiyangal are known as an Anson Bay people. A researcher named Norman Tindale estimated their traditional lands. He calculated they covered about 100 square miles (259 square kilometers).

Another researcher, Bill Stanner, gave a more exact location. He said the Emmiyangal lived along the coast. This area runs south from where the Daly River flows into the Timor Sea. Their land reached as far as a place called Red Cliff. Emmiyangal stories say their land is between Banagaya and Mabulhuk (Cape Ford).

Who Are the Emmiyangal People?

In the past, some thought the Emmiyangal were very closely related to the Wogait people. Researchers like Arthur Capell and Stanner even said they were almost the same.

However, we now know their closest ties are with the Menhdheyangal people. These ties are both in language and culture. Even with these close links, Norman Tindale saw enough differences in their language. Because of this, he said the Emmiyangal were their own separate group.

Today, most Emmiyangal people live in a government settlement. This place is called Belyuen. It is located on the Cox Peninsula. One family lives at the Balgal outstation in Anson Bay. Another family lives in Wadeye.

Other Names for Emmiyangal

• Ami
• Ame