Jarrakan languages

The Jarrakan (formerly Djeragan) languages are a small family of Australian Aboriginal languages spoken in northern Australia. The name is derived from the word jarrak, which means "language" in Kija.

The three main Jarrakan languages are:

Jarrakan
- Kija (about 160 speakers)
- Miriwoongic
  - Miriwoong (about 150 speakers)
  - Gajirrawoong †

These are divided into two groups: Kijic, consisting of only Kija, and Miriwoongic, consisting of Miriwoong and Gajirrawoong; Dixon (2002) considers the latter to be a single language.

Doolboong may also have been a Jarrakan language, but this is uncertain as it is extinct and essentially unattested.

Vocabulary

Capell (1940) lists the following basic vocabulary items:

References

McGregor, William (2004). The Languages of the Kimberley, Western Australia. London, New York: Taylor & Francis. p. 40.