Page Type: languageDhuwaya | Ethnologue

DWY ISO 639-3

Dhuwaya

Dhuwaya Autonym

A language of Australia

dwy
Baby Gumatj
Dhuwaya
1,500, all users. L1 users: 500 (2015 C. Bow). L2 users: 1,000 (2015 C. Bow).
Northern Territory, North-east Arnhem Land, Yirrkala and surrounding outstations.
4 (Educational).
Australian, Pama-Nyungan, Yuulngu, Dhuwal
Most closely related to Gumatj [gnn]. Dhuwaya is Yolngu variety that has resulted from language contact between different Yolngu dialects (Amery 1993).
Dhuwaya has evolved as the Yirrkala communilect or common language spoken by all of the younger generation irrespective of clan membership (Amery 1993). Most also use English [eng].
Dhuwaya is used as the language of instruction up to grade 4 in the bilingual program at Yirrkala School (Amery 1993:61). Bible portions: 2019.
OLAC resources in and about Dhuwaya
Latin script [Latn].
Location: Northern Territory, North-east Arnhem Land, Yirrkala and surrounding outstations.