Kartu languages
Encyclopedia
The Kartu languages is the name given by linguists to a group of Indigenous Australian
languages spoken in the Murchison and Gascoyne
regions of Western Australia
which are thought to be closely related and to descend from a relatively recent common ancestor.
The languages usually considered to be members of the Kartu group are:
The name kartu comes from the word for 'man' in one of the languages. In some earlier work the word was spelled 'kardu'.
The Kartu group is a member of the Southwest branch of the Pama–Nyungan family.
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
languages spoken in the Murchison and Gascoyne
Gascoyne region of Western Australia
The Gascoyne region is one of the nine regions of Western Australia. It is located in the north west of Western Australia, and consists of the local government areas of Carnarvon, Exmouth, Shark Bay and Upper Gascoyne...
regions of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
which are thought to be closely related and to descend from a relatively recent common ancestor.
The languages usually considered to be members of the Kartu group are:
- BadimayaBadimaya languageBadimaya is an Australian Aboriginal language. It is a member of the Kartu subgroup of the Southwest branch of the Pama–Nyungan family.Badimaya country lies in the area between Mount Magnet and Dalwallinu...
- WajarriWajarri languageWajarri is an Australian Aboriginal language. It is one of the Kartu languages of the large Southwest branch of the Pama–Nyungan family.Wajarri country is inland from Geraldton, Western Australia, and extends as far south and west as Mullewa, north to Gascoyne Junction and east to Meekatharra...
- NhandaNhanda languageNhanda or Nhanta or Nhandi is an Australian Aboriginal language. It has been considered a member of the Kartu languages group of the large Southwest branch of the Pama–Nyungan family, but recent research has thrown this classification into question....
- MalganaMalgana languageMalgana is an Australian Aboriginal language. It is considered a member of the Kartu group of the large Southwest branch of the Pama–Nyungan family of languages....
- YinggardaYinggarda languageYinggarda is an Australian Aboriginal language. It is one of the Kartu languages of the large Southwest branch of the Pama–Nyungan family.Yinggarda country is around Carnarvon, on the central western coast of Western Australia, and extends inland to near Gascoyne Junction and south to around the...
The name kartu comes from the word for 'man' in one of the languages. In some earlier work the word was spelled 'kardu'.
The Kartu group is a member of the Southwest branch of the Pama–Nyungan family.