Mantharta language

Mantharta
RegionWestern Australia
EthnicityTharrkari, Wariangga, Tenma, Jiwarli, ?Malgaru
Native speakers
2 Dhargari (2005)
1 (2007)
Dialects
Language codes
ISO 639-3Variously:
dhr  Dhargari
wri  Warriyangga
iin  Thiin
dze  Djiwarli
Glottologmant1266
AIATSISW21 Tharrkari, W22 Warriyangka, W25 Thiin, W28 Jiwarli
Mantharta languages (green) among other Pama–Nyungan (tan).

Mantharta is a partly extinct dialect cluster spoken in the southern Pilbara region of Western Australia. There were four varieties, which were distinct but largely mutually intelligible. The four were:

  • Tharrgari (Tharrkari, Dhargari), still spoken c.2005
  • Warriyangka (Wadiwangga), still spoken c.1973
  • Thiin (Thiinma), still spoken c.2021
  • Jiwarli (Tjiwarli), extinct 1986

The name mantharta comes from the word for "man" in all four varieties.