Karajarri

Karajarri, also known as Karadjeri, Garadjari, or Bardidjara, is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It belongs to the Nyulnyulan language family.

Language Classification:

Karajarri is classified as a member of the Nyulnyulan family. Within Nyulnyulan, it is generally considered to be part of the Western subgroup.

Geographic Distribution:

Historically, Karajarri was spoken by the Karajarri people in the coastal and inland areas south of Broome, extending towards the Great Sandy Desert. Today, the number of fluent speakers is greatly reduced, and the language is considered endangered. The remaining speakers are primarily elders.

Language Revitalization Efforts:

Efforts are underway to document and revitalize Karajarri, including language programs, recordings of elders, and the development of educational materials. These initiatives aim to preserve the language and transmit it to younger generations.

Linguistic Features:

Like other Nyulnyulan languages, Karajarri exhibits complex morphology, including agglutination. Its phonology includes a range of distinctive sounds, and its grammar features ergative-absolutive alignment.

Alternative Names and Spellings:

The language has been recorded under various names and spellings, reflecting differing orthographic conventions and dialectal variations. Common alternative names include: Garadjari, Karadjeri, Bardidjara, and related terms.