Anmatyerr[1] is divided into Eastern and Western dialects,[2] both dialects of Upper Arrernte.[3] The linguist Jennifer Green has been key to documenting the Anmatyerr language and the anthropologist Jason M. Gibson has written about Anmatyerr history, language and ceremonial practice.
In 1974 the traditional lands of the Anmatyerr people inN.B. Tindale'sAboriginal Tribes of Australia were described as covering an area of 2.9 million hectares (7.2 million acres). He specifies its central features as encompassing the Forster Range, Mount Leichhardt (Arnka),[4][full citation needed]Coniston, Stuart Bluff Range to the east of West Bluff; theHann and Reynolds Ranges (Arwerlt Atwaty); the Burt Plain north of Rembrandt Rocks and Connor Well. Their eastern frontier went as far asWoodgreen. To the northeast, their borders lay around central Mount Stuart (Amakweng) and Harper Springs.[5]
Anmatyerr communities located within the region includeNturiya (Old Ti Tree Station),Ti-TreePmara Jutunta (6 Mile),Willowra,Laramba (Napperby Station) and Alyuen. What is today known as the Anmatyerr region has overlap withWarlpiri,Arrernte andAlyawarr language communities. Many people come from two or three different language groups. TheUtopia community, 250 km (160 mi) northeast ofAlice Springs, and set up in 1927, is partly on Alyawarr land, partly on land of the Anmatyerr. As a specialist in Arandic culture and languageT. G. H Strehlow also worked with Anmatyerr people throughout his career, recording much of their ceremonial traditions.[6]
Gwoya/Kwatye Jungarrayi, aka "One Pound Jimmy", was the first named Aboriginal person to appear on an Australian postage stamp, in 1950. Gwoya is the Anmatyerr word for 'water', Kwatye.
Breen, Gavan (2001). "Chapter 4: The wonders of Arandic phonology". In Simpson, Jane; Nash, David; Laughren, Mary; Austin, Peter; Alpher, Barry (eds.).Forty years on: Ken Hale and Australian languages(pdf). Pacific Linguistics 512. ANU. Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies. (Pacific Linguistics). pp. 45–69.ISBN085883524-X – viaResearchGate.
