Ngarnka facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Ngarnka people are an Aboriginal group from the Northern Territory in Australia. You might also hear them called Ngarnji or Ngewin. Sometimes, people think they are the same as the Gudanji people. However, experts who study languages (linguists) say that the Ngarnka language is different from the Gudanji language.

The Ngarnka Language and Culture

The Ngarnka language is a special kind of Mirndi language. It is not part of the larger Pama-Nyungan language family. Sadly, the last person who spoke Ngarnka fluently passed away around 1997 or 1998.

Today, many Ngarnka people feel a strong connection to the Wambaya people. They sometimes even use "Wambaya" as another name for their own group. However, a language expert named Neil Chadwick studied these languages carefully. His research shows that Ngarnka was a unique language. It was related to Wambaya and Jingulu, but it was still its own distinct language, even in the 1970s.

Other Names for Ngarnka

The Ngarnka people and their language have been known by a few different names over time. These include:

Ngarnga
Ngarndji
Gudanji
Ngewin
Gnuin
Leeillawarrie

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Ngarnka Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.