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
Western Queensland encompasses the three western regions in the Australian state of Queensland:
* North West Queensland, often known as Gulf Country;
* Central West Queensland; and
* South West Queensland.
History
Karuwali (also known as ...
spoken by the
Mitaka people.
Classification and dialects
Karruwali (Garuwali) and
Marulta (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
The Karnic languages are a group of languages of the Pama–Nyungan family. According to Dixon (2002), these are three separate families, but Bowern (2001) establishes regular paradigmatic connections among many of the languages, demonstrating ...
.
References
External links
Bibliography of Garuwali people and language resources at the
Karnic languages
Extinct languages of Queensland
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