Also Known As:
Gidja, Kidja, Kija, Kitja, Ku:tji, Kuitji, Kuitj, Gi:dj, Kwitj, Gwidji, Guidj, Guwidji, Kisah, Keha, Kisha, Kityu, Liej, Lungga, Longga, Loonga, Langgu, Lunga, Lungu, Paljarri, Djarak, Tjarak, War-ingari, Warrangari, Kutnalawaru, Miwa, Walki, Kitja
Dialects & Varieties
- Warmun variety
- Halls Creek variety
Gija (East Kimberley, Western Australia) - Language Snapshot
de Dear, Caroline, Francesco Possemato & Joe Blythe. 2020. Gija (East Kimberley, Western Australia) – Language Snapshot. In Peter K. Austin (ed.) Language Documentation and Description 17,
134-141. London: EL Publishing. http://www.elpublishing.org/PID/189
Critically Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
12
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 5
A small percentage of the community speaks the language, and speaker numbers are decreasing very rapidly.
5
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 5
Used only in a few very specific domains, such as in ceremonies, songs, prayer, proverbs, or certain limited domestic activities.
5
Transmission
Transmission 4
Many of the grandparent generation speak the language, but younger people generally do not.
4
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
800
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
No results found.
Location and Context
Countries
Traditionally spoken in the region from north to Warmun (Turkey Creek), west to Landsdowne & Tableland stations, and south to Yarliyil (Halls Creek), including the majority of Purnululu National Park, in East Kimberley, northern Western Australia. Gija people live in the communities of Warmun (Warrmarn), Wurreranginy (Frog Hollow), Roogoon (Crocodile Hole), Joowoorlinji (Bow River), Yarangga (Chinaman's Garden), Halls Creek, and Kununnurra.
Location Description
No results found.
Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
Many community members are actively engaged in language revitalisation efforts, working with linguists to produce language-learning materials and records of ethnobiological knowledge, oral history, and stories through painting.
Other Languages Used By The Community
Kimberley Kriol, Australian English
Number of Other Language Speakers:
None
Domains of Other Languages:
None
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
No results found.
Recent Resources
This site shares our stories, struggles and successes as we do everything we can to keep Gija alive
The project aims to document significant aspects of the encyclopaedic knowledge of the natural and c