Bunuba (Bunaba, Bunapa, Punuba, Punapa, Punaba, Buniba) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken by some 41 older Bunuba adults, most of whom live in Junjuwa, an Aboriginal community in Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia. Bunuba is not related to the Pama-Nyungan language family that spans the majority of Australia; however, it is a relative of Guniyandi. Both are subgroups of the Bunuban language family. Bunuba consists of two dialects, 'light' and 'heavy' Bunuba. Due to the growing concern of their language becoming extinct, the elders to maintain the use of Bunuba by passing on stories to younger community members around campfires at night. This is a way for Bunuba elders to prevent the extinction of their language, by passing it down through generations. Language maintenance and revival has increased during the later decades of the 20th century and the early 21st century due to the growing documentation of Bunuba language, and the production of resources that have been written and used by Bunuba community members. History of research on Bunuba Early phase (late 19th century – 1929) The first distinctions made between the Australian Aboriginal languages of the north and south of Australia were by Wilhelm Schmidt (linguist) in 1919. These language groups later became known as Pama–Nyungan (the Southern languages) and Non-Pama-Nyungan (the Northern Languages). Intermediate phase (1930–1959) From 1938 to 1989 Australian linguist, Arthur Capell visited the Northern Territory to record features of Kimberley Languages including Bunuba. Capell's studies were published in 1940 in the journal article The Classification of Languages in North and North-West Australia. His written work is now located at Canberra's Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. A New Approach to Australian Linguistics published by Capell in 1956 details the classifications and typologies of Australian Aboriginal languages, including those of the Kimberley (Western Australia). Modern phase (1960 – present) The modern phase of Australian Aboriginal Language research employs a descriptive approach that is grammar-oriented. Howard Coate documented Bunuba in the mid-1960s, applying new approaches and modern linguistic research methods to his contributions. In particular, he produced audio recordings of Bunuba dialogue which is also now located at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Australian linguist Alan Rumsey has extensively contributed to detailed linguistic coverage of Bunuba from the 1970s until the 1990s whilst working with the local Bunuba community. Rumsey has focused on syntax and producing a Bunuba