The name currently used by the people themselves to signify the South-west language and its various dialects is a word which previously meant 'man', 'person'. It is the word Njuŋaṛ (nyungar). This word is used as the name of the people, the name of their language (both the original language and the later development after contact with English) and as an adjective describing their country, their way of life and other features of their culture.
The central group, generally, is called Njuŋaṛ today, although a section around Brookton, is still referred to by the old name Pipelman(bibelman). In the literature this word has been spelt Bibbulmun, Peopleman, etc; it was spoken in the area in which Brookton, Northam and Toodjay stand today.
The southern dialect of Njuŋaṛ is still known as Miṇoŋ (mirnawng), meaning 'South'. In old language maps this is written Meenung, and in other ways. The name should not be confused with Mininy(minin), which was the name of a language spoken near Eucla.
The eastern dialect, between Merredin and Kalgoorlie, was known as Kaḷamay (garlamai), previously spelt Kelamai, Kela:mai (see, for example Tindale's language map). Very few speakers of this dialect remain. The morpheme kala in this dialect means 'fire'. It contrasts with the central pronunciation, kaḷ, and with watjan, its equivalent in he north-west of Njuŋaṛ country. The suffix -may is equal to the Western Desert suffix -tjara 'having', 'with', 'equipped with' (that is 'the language having such a form'). As in the Western Desert, dialect groups were named according to the idiosyncrasies of their dialect. [e.g. Nganya-tjarra, Pitjatja-tjarra]
In the New Norcia-Goomalling area the dialect was known as Tjapanmay(djabanmai). Mrs Liza Narriel, now deceased, was the only remaining speaker of this dialect, but her old dialect had been influenced greatly by central Nju?ar and it was difficult to obtain more than a few words of the original Tjapanmay before she died. East of this dialect was Watjanmay (wadjanmai) referred to above, of which no known speakers reman.
Around Mingenew, another dialect of Njuŋaṛ has been called Nanakaṭi (nanagardi) by the people of Mullewa. North of this is Watjari (wadjarri), and north east is Patimay - dialects of the Murchison River language. Contrasting with Patimay was Wiṭimay(wirtimai) further north. The forms pati and wiṭi, were variants of the word meaning 'no'.
A variant of Njuŋaṛ occurred east of the Miṇoŋ group, in the area around Ravensthorpe. It was known as Kwetjman (gwedjman). It was so named because it was regarded as being 'very sharp talk' (kwetj meaning 'thin', 'sharp').
Still known and spoken at Norseman is a language having close links with both Njuŋaṛ and the Western Desert language. This is known as ŋatjumay (ngadjumai), ŋatju (ngadju), waŋka malpa (wangga malba), and by other names depending upon which group describes it. Beyond this, eastwards, there were still other small linguistic groups hemmed in by the widely spoken Western Desert family of languages.
....With the setting up of the Carrolup Settlement in the Great Southern and the Moore River Settlement north of Perth, there came a drastic movement of people from the Perth area, from the settled parts of the South-west and from the Eastern wheatbelt, into these settlements where for nearly 30 years diverse groups were forced into contact with each other. Then, under Native Welfare Commissioner S. Middleton, the settlements were closed down or handed over to Christina missions, thus bringing about a further reshuffling of people.
Today the people travel in many directions seeking work, visiting relatives, attending funerals, and consciously or unconsciously searching for a community in which they may feel at home.
During the period of the present linguistic research, Njuŋaṛ speaking people, previously known at Badjaling ( on the York-Quairading-Bruce Rock lie_ in the years 1938-44, were met again at Geraldton, at Mullewa and at Mt Magnet. Others from this same area were seen in Kalgoorlie, Merredin, Kellerberrin and in Perth. People who were known to have left the Great Southern (chiefly from around Narrogin) and had gone to Pinjarra, Collie and Bunbury in search of employment were found back in Narrogin because of mechanisation on the farms at which they had worked for several years.
Gnowangerup people have been found living with Murchison River people at Mullewa and Mt Magnet, and with Western Desert people in Kalgoorlie.
These movements have led to considerable fusion of what were probably more distinct dialects. Today, as far as the people are concerned. 'Njuŋaṛ is Njuŋaṛ' whether spoken at Geraldton or Gnowangerup, Kalgoorlie or Kojonup, Merredin or Moora.