In this chapter, I present a sketch of the linguistic properties of spatial description in Arrernte (otherwise known as Arunta, Aranda), an Aboriginal language spoken in Central Australia. In particular, I examine data collected from Eastern and Central (i.e. Mparntwe) Arrernte speakers living in Alice Springs.

The language and its speakers

Eastern and Central Arrernte are, from a linguist's standpoint, dialects of one language which is simply labelled Eastern Arrernte. Eastern Arrernte belongs to the Arandic group within the Pama-Nyungan family of Australian languages. Other members of the Arandic group include Kaytetye, Alyawarr, Anmatyerr, Western Arrernte and Lower Arrernte. Eastern Arrernte traditionally covered an area of more than 40,000 square kilometres in the Central Australian desert, encompassing the Eastern Macdonell and Harts Ranges and regions of the Simpson Desert. Neighbouring languages are (or, traditionally, were): Anmatyerr and Alyawarr to the north, Western Arrernte and Luritja to the west and south-west, Lower Arrernte, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara to the south, and the Arabanic languages to the east.

It is estimated that there are approximately 2,000 speakers of Eastern Arrernte, making it one of the healthiest Australian languages. The language is in daily use and children are still learning it as a first language. In fact, it is used as a medium of instruction at the Yipirinya School in Alice Springs and the Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) school.