Warrongo language
Warrongo (or War(r)ungu) is an Australian Aboriginal language, one of the dozen languages of the Maric branch of the Pama–Nyungan family. It was formerly spoken by the Warrongo people in the area around Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Its last native speaker was Alf Palmer, who died in 1981.
| Warrongo | |
|---|---|
| Northern Maric | |
| Native to | Australia |
| Region | Queensland, west of Ingham and Abergowrie almost to Einasleigh |
| Ethnicity | Warrongo, Gugu-Badhun, Gudjal |
| Extinct | 1981 with the death of Alf Palmer |
Pama–Nyungan
| |
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Either:wrg – Warungugdc – Gugu-Badhun |
| Glottolog | nort2757 |
| AIATSIS | Y133 Warungu, Y128 Gugu Badhun |
| ELP | |
Before his death, linguists Tasaku Tsunoda and Peter Sutton worked together with Palmer to preserve the language (Warrungu proper); thanks to their efforts, the language is beginning to be revived.
One of the notable feature of the language is its syntactic ergativity.
As noted by Ethnologue, the language is currently dormant meaning that there are no native/proficient speakers left.
Alternative names for the language include Warrangu, Warrango, War(r)uŋu, War-oong-oo, Gudjala and Gudjal.
The Warungu language region includes areas from the Upper Herbert River to Mount Garnet.