Murrinhpatha language
Murrinhpatha is a phonetically written language (unlike English) where one symbol represents one sound. Quite a number of the sounds are similar to English, while others are not. Stress is normally on the first syllable of the word.
There are four Murrinhpatha vowels - i, e, a, u - which are always pronounced the same.
There are 21 consonants, with some represented by two symbols - p, b, t, d, k, g, m, n, ng, l, w, y, r and rr.
Murrinhpatha is the dominant language of the people of the Thamarrurr Region. In particular, it is the mother-tongue of the Murrinhpatha language group which is formed of the following six (6) clan groups:-
- Kardu Rak Kirnmu
- Kardu Yek Maninh
- Kardu Yek Diminin
- Kardu Yek Nangu
- Kardu Rak Mathalinti
- Kardu Yek Wunh
Wadeye
The majority of people from all six clan groups now live in the township of Wadeye (see map below, pronounced "Wad-ay-yer", formerly known as Port Keats Mission and built on the clan land of the Kardu Yek Diminin). It is also home to the majority of people from the other sixteen (16) clan groups of the region. In all, the population of Wadeye (in 2011) is over 2,600, making it the sixth-largest township in the Northern Territory.
Representatives from the region's clan groups comprise two important organizations:
1) Thamarrurr Regional Authority Aboriginal Corporation – focused upon cultural, social and political development
2) Thamarrurr Development Corporation Limited – focused upon commercial development
Murrinhpatha is unique in that, unlike some Indigenous languages which have either died out or developed into Kriol, it has been maintained and now become the dominant language of its region. This is due to the historical development of that region and, in particular, the township of Wadeye. Today, the number of people speaking Murrinhpatha is approximately 3,000+.
