Warnman
Pama-Nyungan
Warnman is a Western Desert Pama-Nyungan language of the Pilbara region of Western Australia, sister to Warlpiri (wbp), Pitjantjatjara (pjt), and other Western Desert dialects. The Warnman traditional country includes the Karlamilyi National Park (formerly Rudall River National Park) — the largest national park in Western Australia and one of the most arid environments on Earth. UNESCO classifies Warnman as critically endangered with only ~50 fluent speakers remaining; the Warnman Native Title claim was determined in 2002. Active language preservation through the WA Department of Aboriginal Affairs and the Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre.
Where it is spoken
20 core words in Warnman
Water
kapi
/kapi/
Fire
waru
/waɻu/
Sun
tjirntu
/cinʈu/
Moon
kintirriny
/kinʈiriɲ/
Mother
ngurra
/ŋuɻa/
Father
kirrki
/kiɻki/
Eat
ngarra
/ŋaɻa/
Drink
nyaa
/ɲaː/
Love
kanyji
/kaɲɟi/
Heart
kurda
/kuɖa/
Tree
watiya
/watija/
House
ngurra
/ŋuɻa/
Dog
walyamarra
/waʎamaɻa/
Cat
ngarda
/ŋaɖa/
Hand
mara
/maɻa/
Eye
kuru
/kuɻu/
Hello
palya
/paʎa/
Thank you
walytjarra
/waʎcaɻa/
One
kuyu
/kuju/
Good
palya
/paʎa/
Sources
Words compared
Compared with related Pama-Nyungan languages
| Meaning | Warnman | Pitjantjatjara | Pintupi-Luritja | Nhanda | Olkol | Martu Wangka | Adnyamathanha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | kapi /kapi/ | kapi /kapi/ | kapi /kapi/ | kapi /kapi/ | kupa /kupa/ | kapi /kapi/ | awi /awi/ |
| Fire | waru /waɻu/ | waru /waɻu/ | waru /waɻu/ | warla /waɻla/ | paral /paɻal/ | waru /waɾu/ | warlu /waɻlu/ |
| Sun | tjirntu /cinʈu/ | tjintu /cintu/ | tjintu /cintu/ | ngama /ŋama/ | naŋkari /naŋkaɻi/ | tjirntu /cɪɳʈu/ | yidnu /jidnu/ |
| Moon | kintirriny /kinʈiriɲ/ | pira /piɻa/ | pira /piɻa/ | kanyala /kaɲala/ | kakal /kakal/ | kayalany /kajalaɲ/ | vuyu /vuju/ |
| Mother | ngurra /ŋuɻa/ | ngunytju /ŋuɲcu/ | ngunytju /ŋuɲcu/ | ngamaji /ŋamadʒi/ | ngangi /ŋaŋi/ | yakaji /jakaɟi/ | nyangka /ɲaŋka/ |
| Father | kirrki /kiɻki/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | kuthurra /kutʰuɻa/ | kaba /kaba/ | mama /mama/ | arndu /aɳɖu/ |
| Eat | ngarra /ŋaɻa/ | ngalkuni /ŋalkuni/ | ngalkuni /ŋalkuni/ | ngarna /ŋaɻna/ | ngarinya /ŋaɻiɲa/ | ngalku- /ŋalku/ | ngalkanha /ŋalkan̪a/ |
| Drink | nyaa /ɲaː/ | tjikini /cikini/ | tjikini /cikini/ | nyuna /ɲuna/ | kupa nyaa /kupa ɲaː/ | tjiki- /cɪki/ | ulpanha /ulpan̪a/ |
| Love | kanyji /kaɲɟi/ | mukulya /mukuʎa/ | mukulya /mukuʎa/ | kanyji /kaɲdʒi/ | kanyji /kaɲɟi/ | mukulyu /mukuʎu/ | mukunha /mukun̪a/ |
| Heart | kurda /kuɖa/ | kurunpa /kuɻunpa/ | kurunpa /kuɻunpa/ | pulpara /pulpaɻa/ | piku /piku/ | kurtu /kʊɻʈu/ | kurda /kuɖa/ |
| Tree | watiya /watija/ | punu /punu/ | punu /punu/ | parntany /paɳʈaɲ/ | warray /waɾaj/ | watarrka /wataɻka/ | urtu /uʈu/ |
| House | ngurra /ŋuɻa/ | ngura /ŋuɻa/ | ngura /ŋuɻa/ | nhurra /ɳuɻa/ | mariŋ /maɻiŋ/ | ngurra /ŋura/ | vakali /vakali/ |
| Dog | walyamarra /waʎamaɻa/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | kuwiyarl /kuwijaɻl/ | kunpa /kunpa/ | papa /papa/ | vurlpu /vuɻlpu/ |
| Cat | ngarda /ŋaɖa/ | pusi /pusi/ | pusi /pusi/ | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | — /—/ | vunmara /vunmaɻa/ |
| Hand | mara /maɻa/ | mara /maɻa/ | mara /maɻa/ | mara /maɻa/ | mara /maɻa/ | mara /maɾa/ | mara /maɻa/ |
| Eye | kuru /kuɻu/ | kuru /kuɻu/ | kuru /kuɻu/ | kuru /kuɻu/ | mil /mil/ | kuru /kuɾu/ | mina /mina/ |
| Hello | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | — /—/ | palya /paʎa/ |
| Thank you | walytjarra /waʎcaɻa/ | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | marlu /maɻlu/ | marlu /maɻlu/ | — /—/ | mukunha /mukun̪a/ |
| One | kuyu /kuju/ | kutju /kucu/ | kutju /kucu/ | kuyu /kuju/ | kuyu /kuju/ | kutjarra-wangu /kucara waŋu/ | mukuna /mukuna/ |
| Good | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | walykumarra /waʎkumaɻa/ | palya /paʎa/ | palya /paʎa/ | ngarrkanha /ŋaɻkan̪a/ |
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