Maps of Tasmanian

Australia: Language Locations and Tribal Groups (Dixon and Blake)


View Original Image

Language Locations and Tribal Groups in Australia


Source:   Blake, B.J., J.G. Breen, T. Crowley, R.M.W. Dixon and W.H. Douglas. 1981. Handbook of Australian Languages. Vol 2, ed. by Dixon, R.M.W. and Barry J. Blake. Canberra: Australian National University Press.
Date Created:   2009.

Map Description:
This is a compilation of six different maps showing various language locations and tribal groups in the Australia region. The Wargamay map displays the Wargamay language and its dialects as well as the neighboring languages.

According to Dixon, Wargamay, Hinchinbrook Biyay, and Halifax Biyay are all dialects of the Wargamay language. He also explains that there are strong similarities between Wargamay and the bordering languages of Giramay and Nyawaygi, but these similarities do not suggest a "close genetic connection" (Dixon).

The dialectal boundary between Biyay and Halifax Biyay are based loosely on information provided by the source. The Watjarri map illustrates the Watjarri language, "spoken by the descendants of an Aboriginal tribe previously camped along a section of the Murchison River," and its respective neighboring languages and place names (Douglas). Around these stations and towns, within the original Watjarri area, were formed dialects. Furthermore, the railway allowed for influences from other surrounding languages which Douglas describes is evident in the borrowings across vocabularies. The Tasmania map shows a speculative inference of the different locations of the languages and dialects of Tasmania which are now extinct.

On the map are 15 regions to which vocabulary are assigned and cross-compared to analyze the genetic relationship between the languages. Crowley and Dixon suggest that there were at least eight languages within Tasmania; however, this conclusion is "tentative" as little data is available on many of the languages. The Margany/Gunya map displays Margany and Gunya, "the south-westernmost of the long chain of closely related dialects known to (...) linguists as the Mari languages" and other surrounding languages and place names (Breen). The Anguthimiri map highlights the area of Anguthimri speaking groups as well as neighboring peoples and languages. According to Crowley, Anguthimri has "one of the most unusual phonological systems" consisting of single-syllable words, consonant clustered initial syllables, and an extensive vowel system (Crowley).



Note: Scanned or downloaded images have been geo-registered for compatibility with our project interface. Slight imperfections are an inevitable result of the registration process. View original image(s) to see the unaltered map(s).

Tasmania: Tasmanian Languages (Weber)


View Original Image

The Tasmanian Languages

Source:   Weber, George. 2003. Andaman Association.
Data Source:   Schmidt, W. 1952. Die Tasmanischen Sprachen. Spektrum : Utrecht-Anvers
Downloaded Date:   May 2009
Map Description:
"The map shows the Tasmanian language family roughly as proposed by the German linguist Schmidt (W. Schmidt, 1952, Die Tasmanischen Sprachen. Spektrum, Utrecht-Anvers). He postulates at least three and perhaps four languages of which one, the Eastern, can be further divided into three distinct dialects (or languages). The languages probably followed roughly the known tribal borders" (Weber).



Note: Scanned or downloaded images have been geo-registered for compatibility with our project interface. Slight imperfections are an inevitable result of the registration process. View original image(s) to see the unaltered map(s).