Thalanyji (also spelt Dhalandji, Thalanyji, and other variations) and Binigura/Pinikura (also spelt Pinigura, Binnigoora, and other variations) are two closely related
languages
Language is a structured system of communication that consists of grammar and vocabulary. It is the primary means by which humans convey meaning, both in spoken and signed forms, and may also be conveyed through writing. Human language is ch ...
from the
Pilbara
The Pilbara () is a large, dry, sparsely populated regions of Western Australia, region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal people; wealth disparity; its ancient landscapes; the prevailing r ...
region of
Western Australia
Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...
. They are part of the
Kanyara subgroup of the
Pama–Nyungan language family.
They are spoken by the
Thalanyji and
Pinikura peoples respectively. Both languages are thought to be
extinct
Extinction is the termination of an organism by the death of its Endling, last member. A taxon may become Functional extinction, functionally extinct before the death of its last member if it loses the capacity to Reproduction, reproduce and ...
; there were six speakers of Thalanyji recorded in 2004/5,
and ten speakers of Pinikura recorded in 1975, but none since in either language.
According to
Peter Austin, Pinikura, Thalanyji,
Payungu and
Purdana "should probably be classified as belonging to the Kanyara subgroup".
[
]
Phonology
Consonants
Vowels
References
Kanyara languages
Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre; Deak, Eleonora. 2008. ''Thalanyji sketch grammar : 2008''. Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre. 155pp.{{IndigenousAustralian-lang-stub