Aboriginal languages in NT
More than 100 Aboriginal languages and dialects are spoken in the Northern Territory (NT).
Aboriginal languages of the NT vary greatly in their grammatical structures, concepts and vocabulary.
Map of major Aboriginal languages of the NT PDF (363.2 KB)
Map of major Aboriginal languages of the NT DOCX (279.5 KB)
Most widely spoken Aboriginal languages in NT
| Language | Region |
|---|---|
| East Side/West Side Kriol | Katherine |
| Yolngu Matha | Top End |
| Warlpiri | Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs |
| Pitjantjatjara* | Alice Springs |
| Murrinh Patha | Top End |
| Anindilyakwa | Top End |
| Eastern/Central Arrernte, Western Arrarnta+ | Alice Springs |
| Kunwinjku | Top End |
| Burarra | Top End |
| Modern Tiwi | Top End |
| Luritja/Pintupi* | Alice Springs |
| Gurindji | Katherine |
| Maung | Top End |
| Alyawarr/Anmatyerr+ | Alice Springs, Tennant Creek |
| Warumungu | Tennant Creek |
| * Western Desert family +Arandic family |
Languages by community
| Region | Language |
|---|---|
| Tiwi Islands | |
| Milikapiti | Tiwi (Modern and Traditional) |
| Pirlangimpi (Garden Point) | Tiwi (Modern and Traditional) |
| Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu) | Tiwi (Modern and Traditional) |
| West Arnhem region | |
| Gunbalanya (Oenpelli) | Kunwinjku |
| Maningrida | Burarra, Ndjebbana, Kunwinjku, Yolngu Matha |
| Minjilang (Croker Island) | Iwaidja |
| Warruwi | Maung |
| East Arnhem region | |
| Angurugu (Groote Eylandt) | Anindilyakwa |
| Lake Evella | Yolngu Matha (Djambarrpuyngu, Galpu, Golumala, Rirratjingu) |
| Gapuwiyak | Yolngu Matha (Djambarrpuyngu) |
| Gunyangara (Ski Beach) | Yolngu Matha (Gumatj, Dhuwaya, Galpu, Rirratjingu) |
| Milingimbi | Yolngu Matha (Djambarrpuyngu, Gupapuyngu) |
| Milyakburra (Bickerton Island) | Anindilyakwa |
| Ramingining | Yolngu Matha (Gupapuyngu, Djambarrpuyngu, Djinang) |
| Umbakumba (Groote Eylandt) | Anindilyakwa |
| Yirrkala | Yolngu Matha (Gumatj, Dhuwaya, Galpu, Rirratjingu, Djapu, Djambarrpuyngu) |
| Victoria Daly region | |
| Kalkaringi/Daguragu | Gurindji, Westside Kriol |
| Nauiyu (Daly River) | Ngan’gikurrunggurr, Kriol |
| Nganmarriyanga (Palumpa) | Ngan’gikurrunggurr, Kriol, Murrinh Patha |
| Peppimenarti | Murrinh Patha, Ngan’gikurrunggurr, Kriol |
| Pine Creek | Kriol, Mayali |
| Timber Creek | Westside Kriol |
| Yarralin | Ngarinyman, Westside Kriol |
| Wadeye | Murrinh Patha |
| Roper Gulf region | |
| Barunga | Eastside Kriol |
| Borroloola | Yanyuwa, Garrwa, Eastside Kriol |
| Bulman | Eastside Kriol |
| Jilkminggan/Mataranka | Eastside Kriol |
| Manyallaluk | Eastside Kriol |
| Minyerri | Eastside Kriol |
| Ngukurr | Eastside Kriol |
| Numbulwar | Eastside Kriol, Nunggubuyu |
| Wugularr (Beswick) | Eastside Kriol |
| Barkly region | |
| Ali Curung | Warlpiri, Wumpurrarni English* |
| Alpurrurulam | Alyawarr |
| Ampilatwatja | Alyawarr |
| Arlparra (Utopia) | Alyawarr, Anmatyerr |
| Elliott | Kriol |
| Tennant Creek | Warumungu, Wumpurrarni English*, Warlpiri, Alyawarr |
| Wutunugurra | Alyawarr |
| Central Desert region | |
| Lajamanu | Warlpiri |
| Laramba | Anmatyerr |
| Nyirrpi | Warlpiri |
| Pmara Jutunta (Ti Tree) | Anmatyerr, Warlpiri |
| Willowra | Warlpiri |
| Yuelamu | Anmatyerr, Warlpiri |
| Yuendumu | Warlpiri |
| MacDonnell region | |
| Amoonguna | Eastern/Central Arrernte, Western Arrarnta |
| Apatula (Finke) | Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara, Luritja/Pintupi |
| Hermannsburg (Ntaria) | Western Arrarnta |
| Kaltukatjara (Docker River) | Pitjantjatjara, Ngaatjatjarra |
| Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) | Eastern/Central Arrernte, Western Arrarnta |
| Utju (Areyonga) | Pitjantjatjara, Luritja/Pintupi, Western Arrarnta |
| Walungurru (Kintore) | Luritja/Pintupi |
| Watiyawanu (Mt. Liebig) | Luritja/Pintupi |
| Warumpi (Papunya) | Luritja/Pintupi |
This information is not intended to be exhaustive of all languages and dialects spoken in the Territory. The NT is one of the most linguistically diverse areas of the world.
For comprehensive information about Aboriginal languages of the NT go to the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies website.
Last updated: 21 September 2020
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