Mithaka (also ''Midhaga'', ''Mitaka'') is an

extinct Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...

Australian Aboriginal language The Indigenous languages of Australia number in the hundreds, the precise number being quite uncertain, although there is a range of estimates from a minimum of around 250 (using the technical definition of 'language' as non-mutually intellig ...

in the

Barcoo Shire The Shire of Barcoo is a local government area in Central West Queensland, Australia. In June 2018, the shire had a population of 267 people. It covers an area of , and has existed as a local government entity since 1887. It is named for the ...

of Western Queensland spoken by the

Mitaka people The Mitaka (alternatively Mithaka) were an indigenous Australian people of the state of Queensland. Country In Norman Tindale's calculations, the Mitaka, a Channel Country people around Lake Machattie, are assigned a tribal domain of some f ...

Classification and dialects

Karruwali The Karuwali were an indigenous people of the state of Queensland. Country Norman Tindale estimated that the Karuwali's lands extended over some of territory. This took in the area about Farrars Creek near Connemara southwards to Beetoota, Ha ...

(Garuwali) and

Marulta The Marulta were an indigenous Australian people of the state of Queensland, Australia. Language The Marulta spoke Marrulha, one of several dialects of a Karnic language, similar to Mithaka. Country The Marulta were a people of Lake Barrolka, ...

(Marrulha, Marrula) are counted as dialects per Dixon (2002). Breen thinks Mithaka, Marula, and Marunuda may be the same language but does not know if they are alternative names or distinct dialects of the same language. However, Bowern (2001) states that there is not enough evidence to classify them, or even to establish that they are Karnic languages.

References

External links

Bibliography of Garuwali people and language resources
at the

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), established as the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies (AIAS) in 1964, is an independent Australian Government statutory authority. It is a collecting, ...

Karnic languages Extinct languages of Queensland {{ia-lang-stub