The Western Desert language, or Wati, is a dialect cluster of Australian Aboriginal languages in the Pama–Nyungan family.
The name Wati tends to be used when considering the various varieties to be distinct languages, Western Desert when considering them dialects of a single language, or Wati as Wanman plus the Western Desert cluster.
Location and list of communities
The speakers of the various dialects of the Western Desert Language traditionally lived across much of the desert areas of Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. Most Western Desert people live in communities on or close to their traditional lands, although some now live in one of the towns fringing the desert area such as Kalgoorlie, Laverton, Alice Springs, Port Augusta, Meekatharra, Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing.
The following is a partial list of Western Desert communities:
Kintore, Northern Territory
Docker River, Northern Territory
Ernabella, South Australia
Amata, South Australia
Fregon, South Australia
Pipalyatjara, South Australia
Kalka, South Australia
Warburton, Western Australia
Kiwirrkurra, Western Australia
Balgo, Western Australia
Aputula, Northern Territory (also known as Finke) Imanpa, Northern Territory (also known as Mount Ebenezer) Mutitjulu, Northern Territory Jigalong, Western Australia
Dialect continuum
The Western Desert Language consists of a network of closely related dialects; the names of some of these have become quite well known (such as Pitjantjatjara) and they are often referred to as "languages". As the whole group of dialects that constitutes the language does not have its own name it is usually referred to as the Western Desert Language. WDL speakers referring to the overall language use various terms including wangka ("language") or wangka yuti ("clear speech"). For native speakers, the language is mutually intelligible across its entire range.
Dialects
Following are some of the named varieties of the Western Desert Language, with their approximate locations. Starred names are listed as separate languages in Bowern (2011 [2012]).
Antakarinya (Antakirinya)* – north-east of SA
Kartutjarra* – Kartudjara people, near Jigalong, WA
Kukatja* (Ŋatatara) – Yumu and Gugadja people, near Balgo, WA (see also below - 2 with same name) Kokatha* – Kokatha Mula people, central SA Luritja – Kukatja/Loritja people, central Australia Manyjilyjarra (Manjiljarra)* – Mandjildjara (and Mandjindja?) people, near Jigalong Martu Wangka – Jigalong Community Ngaanyatjarra* – near Warburton, WA Ngaatjatjarra – near Warburton, WA Ngalia/Ngaliya (Ooldean) – Salt Lake districts in Western (or Great Victoria) Desert northwest of Ooldea (spoken by the Ngalia people) Pintupi* – Kintore (Northern Territory) and further west. Pintupi Luritja – Papunya and Kintore region, NT Pitjantjatjara* – North-west of SA Putijarra* – Putijarra people, south of Jigalong, WA Titjikala Luritja* – Titjikala, around Maryvale and Finke, NT Tjupany* – Madoidja people/region? Wangkatjunga (Wangkajunga)* – south of Christmas Creek, WA (part of Martu Wangka?) Watha – east of Meekatharra, WA Wawula – Wardal people? Madoidja people?, south-east of Meekatharra Wonggayi – Pindiini/Wangkatha people, Kalgoorlie to Cosmo Newberry and Wiluna region, W.A Yankunytjatjara* – north-west of SA Yulparirra (Yulparija)* – north of Jigalong
Other names associated with Western Desert though they may not be distinct varieties include Dargudi (Targudi), Djalgandi (Djalgadjara), Kiyajarra (Giyadjara, Keiadjara), Nakako, Nana (Nganawongka), Waljen, Wirdinya, and perhaps Mudalga.
The Nyiyaparli language is no longer classified as Wati.
There is considerable variation across this region given the size of the area.
Kukatja
, scientists from the University of Queensland have been undertaking a research project on the Kukatja language in Balgo, the local lingua franca which is fluently spoken "by residents of all ages and across at least seven tribal groups". Researchers are recording conversations and mapping the language, believing that Kukatja could provide clues to how languages are spread around the world. Dr Luis Miguel Rojas Berscia believes that the mission, as in other places such as the Amazon and West Africa could be the common thread, bringing different ethnic groups together in isolated spots. Berscia, along with Balgo woman Melissa Sunfly and other residents, is working on developing a dictionary of the language and a teacher's guide, before English is taken up more widely by the younger generation.