Malgana language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Malgana |
|
|---|---|
| Region | Shark Bay area of Western Australia |
| Ethnicity | Malgana people |
| Extinct | (date missing) |
| Language family |
Pama–Nyungan
|
| Dialects |
Kakurtu (riverside Malgana)
Ngulartu (bush Malgana)
|
| AIATSIS | W18 |
Malgana is an important Aboriginal Australian language. It belongs to the Malgana people, who are the traditional owners of the land around Shark Bay in Western Australia. This language is part of a bigger group called the Kartu languages, which are themselves part of the huge Pama–Nyungan language family.
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What is Malgana Language?
Malgana is the special language spoken by the Malgana people. It is one of many unique languages from Australia's Aboriginal heritage. Languages like Malgana help connect people to their history, culture, and land. They carry stories, knowledge, and traditions passed down through many generations.
Where is Malgana Spoken?
The Malgana language is traditionally spoken in the area around Shark Bay in Western Australia. This region includes the Peron and Edel Land Peninsulas. It also covers some of the land next to these peninsulas. This land is very important to the Malgana people.
Keeping the Language Alive
Since 1995, a group called the Irra Wangga Language Centre has been working on the Malgana language. They took over this important work from the Yamaji Language Centre. Their goal is to help keep the language alive and teach it to new generations. They have created helpful materials like an illustrated wordlist. They have also put together grammar guides and a dictionary. These tools help people learn and understand Malgana.
Malgana Groups and Names
In the past, there were names like 'Buluguda', 'Damala', and 'Watjanti'. These were likely names for different groups of Malgana-speaking people. They might have been different locations where Malgana was spoken. However, they were probably not different dialects of the language.
