Thalanyji (also spelt Dhalandji, Thalanyji, and other variations) and Binigura /Pinikura (also spelt Pinigura, Binnigoora, and other variations), are two closely related
languages from the
Pilbara
The Pilbara () is a large, dry, thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Aboriginal peoples; its ancient landscapes; the red earth; and its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore. It is also a g ...
region of
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
. They are part of the
Kanyara subgroup of the
Pama–Nyungan language family.
They are spoken by the
Thalanyji and
Pinikura peoples respectively. Both languages are thought to be
extinct; there were six speakers of Thalanyji recorded in 2004/5,
and ten speakers of Pinikura recorded in 1975, but none since in either language.
According to
Peter Austin, Pinikura, Thalanyji,
Payungu and
Purdana "should probably be classified as belonging to the Kanyara subgroup".
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]
References
Kanyara languages
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