Warlpiri is a Pama-Nyungan language (Ngarrka group) spo ken by over
3,000 people in Central Australia. Neighbour ing languages (all
Pama-Nyungan) include its closest relatives, Warlmanpa and Ngardily, to
the north-east and west respec tively, Warumungu (Warumungic) and the
Arandic languages, Kaytetye and Alyawarr, to the east, the Western
Desert lan guages, Pintupi and Kukatja, to the south and west
respectively, the Ngumbin language Jaru to the north-west, the Arandic
lan guage, Anmatyerre, to the south-east, and the Ngumbin lan guages,
Gurindji and Mudburra, to the north. Warlpiri country encompasses a huge
area of semi-desert stretching west of Tennant Creek to the Western
Australian border. For the Warlpiri, this country is filled with
meaning. Jukurrpa (often translated as 'Dreaming') beings travel across
it, creating and changing the landscape in their passing. Songs, dances,
painting, stories and journeys celebrate the jukurrpa and the country.
The Warlpiri language is also from the jukurrpa; it is the language
spoken by the jukurrpa beings on their travels through Warlpiri
country."