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.