Also Known As:
MalakMalak, MullukMulluk, Ngolok-Wangar, Ngolak-Wonga, Nguluwongga, Mullukmulluk, Malagmalag, Malakmalak, Mullikmullik, Mollakmollak, Mallackmallack, Mullik-Mullik, Mollak-mollak, Malack-malack, Mulluc-Mulluc, Ngolok-Wangar, Ngululwanga, Ngulugwanga, Akana, Djiramo, Djiramö, Malag-Malag, Malak-malak, Mallak-mallak, Mollak Mollak, Mollok Mollok, Mullik-mullik, Mulluck Mulluck, Mulluk Mulluk, Mulluk-Mulluk, Mullu-Mulluc, Mulukmuluk, Ngolak-Wanggar, Ngolokwangga, Ngulugwongga, Nguluk Wangkar, Ngulukwongga, Valli-valli, Malak-Malak
Dialects & Varieties
Personal Communication on Malak Malak
Dorothea Hoffmann. 2013. "Personal Communication On Malak Malak."
Critically Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
11
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 3
Used mainly in the home and/or with family, but remains the primary language of these domains for many community members.
3
Transmission
Transmission 5
There are only a few elderly speakers.
5
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
3
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
2
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
A few hundred
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
The language is spoken on a daily basis in Woolianna, the traditional MalakMalak land, and used in (almost) all aspects of life. Other languages employed at home are Matngala and Kriol. Outside the traditional lands in Aboriginal communities in Darwin, Belyuen, Timber Creek, and Peppimenarti, speakers are isolated and mostly communicate in Kriol or other languages. Speakers generally have a positive attitude towards MalakMalak and value it very highly. They are, however, aware of its crucial status with young people no longer speaking it and that its replacement by Kriol. Speakers are aware of the critical condition of their language and passionate about its documentation. There is no support for the language from the Australian government, but a language documentation project is currently underway. There is no education or literacy in the language since all young MalakMalaks only speak Kriol or other languages. All speakers of MalakMalak also speak Matngala (zml) and Kriol (rop). Two know Ngan'gikurunggurr (nam), one knows Wagiman (waq).
Location and Context
Countries
Australia
Location Description
Of the 11 (to date) identified and confirmed native speakers, 6 live in Woolianna near the community of Nauiyu on the Daly River, one lives in Peppimenarti, one in Belyuen, two in Fifteen-Mile (near Darwin) and one in Timber Creek.
Government Support
None
Institutional Support
ELDP documentation project underway
Speakers' Attitude
No results found.
Other Languages Used By The Community
Matngala, Kriol, Ngan'gikurunggurr, Wagiman
Number of Other Language Speakers:
All
Domains of Other Languages:
None
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
None yet; in development
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
There is no official writing system, but Dr. Dorothea Hoffmann is currently developing an orthography for publication and research purposes that is Roman-based.
Recent Resources
Informative message
No results found.