Ritharngu

The Ritharngu, also known as the Diakui, are an indigenous Australian people of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.

Language

Ritharngu is a Yolŋu Matha language. In modern times Ritharngu has been observed to be undergoing significant structural changes away from Yolgnu, with innovations in its morphosyntaxis through assimilation of features characteristic of Nunggubuyu and Ngandi.[1]

Country

The Ritharngu are estimated to have landed estates extending over approximately 2,200 square miles (5,700 km2) east and south of the Arafura Swamp. They also inhabit the area east of the Goyder River, whose tributaries' headwaters form their southernmost frontier. They also inhabit the area around the Mitchell Ranges and the Koolatong River headwaters.[2]

Social organization

The Ritharngu are organized into three clans, two pertaining to the Dua Moiety (kinship)moiety and one to the Yirritja moiety.[2]

Dua moieties.

  • 1. Wagilak. (Wagelag, Wawilak, Waurilak, Nunydjulpi, Nundjulpi, Nundjulbi)
  • 2. Manggura. (Manggurra).

Yirritja moiety.

  • 3. Ritarngu. (Ritarungo, Ritharrngu, Ridarngo, Ritaringo, Rittarungo, Ritharingau, Ridarngu, Buranadjini).[2]

Alternative names

  • Dhiyakuy.
  • Djikai, Jikai, Tchikai.
  • Dijogoi.[2]

Notes

    Citations

    Sources

    • Hall, Vic (1962). Dreamtime Justice. Adelaide: Rigby.
    • Heine, Bernd; Kuteva, Tania (2005). Language Contact and Grammatical Change. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-60828-2.
    • Thomson, Donald F. (August 1939). "The Tree Dwellers of the Arafura Swamps: A New Type of Bark Canoe from Central Arnhem Land". Man. 39: 121–126. JSTOR 2793391.
    • Tindale, Norman (1925). "Natives of Groote Eylandt and the west coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Part I". Records of The South Australian Museum. 3: 61–102.
    • Tindale, Norman Barnett (1974). "Diakui (NT)". Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names. Australian National University.
    • Warner, William Lloyd (April 1930). "Morphology and Functions of the Australian Murngin Type of Kinship". American Anthropologist. 32 (2): 207–256. JSTOR 661305.
    • Warner, William Lloyd (April–June 1931). "Morphology and Functions of the Australian Murngin Type of Kinship (Part II)". American Anthropologist. 33 (2): 172–198. JSTOR 660835.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.