Pama-Nyungan languages

The Pama-Nyungan languages are the most widespread family of Australian languages.

The Pama-Nyungan family was identified and named by Kenneth Hale, in his work on the classification of Native Australian languages. Hale realised that of the Aboriginal Australian languages, one relatively closely-interrelated family had spread and proliferated over most of the continent, while approximately a dozen other families were concentrated along the North coast. The Pama-Nyungan family accounts for most of the geographic spread, most of the Aboriginal population, and the greatest number of languages.

The name "Pama-Nyungan" was derived from the names of two widely-separated groups, the Pama languages from the Northeast, and the Nyungan languages from the Southwest. The terms pama and nyunga are expressions meaning "man" in the languages from their respective regions.

The other language families indigenous to the continent of Australia are occasionally referred to, by exclusion, as Non Pama-Nyungan languages, though this is not a proper taxonomic term.

Although counting languages is not, in general, a well-defined operation, there are on the order of hundreds of Pama-Nyungan languages. Most of the Pama-Nyungan languages are spoken by small ethnic groups, with thousands of speakers or fewer. Many are considered endangered languages, and many have recently become extinct.

Classification and Languages

According to Nicholas Evans at the University of Melbourne, the closest relative of Pama-Nyungan is the Garawa isolate, followed by the small Tankic family. He then proposes a more distant relationship with the Gunwinyguan languages in a macro-family he calls Macro-Pama-Nyungan.

Pama-Nyungan proper includes approximately 175 languages in 14 extant and numerous extinct branches.
*Yuulngu or Yolngu Matha: Djinang, Dhangu, Dhuwal, Djinba, Ritharngu, Dhay'yi, Yan-nhangu
*Paman
**Northern: Gudang, Atampaya, Uradhi, Wudhadhi, Tjungundji, Mpalityanh, Yupngayth, Linngithigh, Ngkoth, Yinwum, Aritinngithigh, Awngthim, Mbiywom, Wik-Me'anha, Wik-Ngathana, Wik-Ngatha, Wik-Mungkan, Wik-Iiyanh, Wik-Epa, Wik-Keyangan, Wik-Nantjara, Kugu-Muminh, Kugu-Ugbanh, Kugu-Uwanh, Kugu-Mangk
**Western: Thaayore, Yir Yoront
**North-Eastern: Kantyu, Umpila
**Lamalamic: Umbindhamu, Umbuygamu, Mbariman-Gudhinma, Lama-Lama, Gugu Warra)
**Coastal: Koko Pera, Gog Nar
**Central: Thaypan, Aghu-Tharnggala, Gogo Mini, Dagalag, Kawarrangg, Oykangand
**Norman: Kurtjar, Kuthant, Walangama, Areba, Gunggara
**Flinders: Gugadj
**Southern: Agwamin, Mbabaram, Mbara
**Mayabic: Mayi-Kutuna, Mayi-Kulan, Ngawun
*Yalanjic: Guugu Yimidhirr, Gugu Yalandyi
*Yidinyic: Djabugay, Yidiny
*Dyirbalic: Dyirbal, Warrgamay
*Nyawaygic: Nyawaygi, Wulguru
*Maric: Guwa, Yanda, Yirandhali, Gunggari, Birria, Gugu Badhun, Gudjala, Yilba, Biri, Giya, Yiningay, Wadjalang, Gayiri, Gangulu, Bidyara, Yiman, Margany, Guwamu
*Waka-Kabic: Darambal, Bayali, Gureng Gureng, Gabi, Wuliwuli, Waga, Barunggam, Muringam
*Durubalic: Turrubal, Gowar
*Gumbaynggiric: Gumbaynggir, Yaygir
*Yuin-Kuric: Yugambeh, Nganyaywana, Dyangadi, Worimi, Awabakal, Gudungura, Ngarigu, Thawa, Dyirringany, Dhurga, Dharawal, Darkinyung, Dharuk
*Wiradhuric: Gamilaraay, Ngiyambaa, Wiradhuri
*Baagandji: Bandjigali, Baagdandji
*Yotayotic: Yotayota, Yabula-Yabula
*Kulinic: Wemba Wemba, Nari Nari, Wathawurung, Kolakngat, Wuywurrung, Bungandidj, Kuurn Kopan Noot, Chaap Wuurong
*Ngarinyeric-Yithayithic: Ngarinyeri, Ngayawung, Yuyu, Keramin, Yitha-Yitha
*Karnic: Lhanima, Pitta-Pitta, Arabana, Midhaga, Garuwali, Yarluyandi, Ngamini, Yandruwandha, Diyari, Pirlatapa, Wangkumara, Badjiri, Bidjara (Note: Badjiri and Bidjara are probably not Karnic; there is not enough data to classify them with any confidence but they do not appear to share the innovations which characterise the other Karnic languages. They may be better classified as Maric.
*Yardli: Malyangaba, Yardliwarra
*Wagaya-Warluwaric: Wagaya, Yindjilandji, Warluwara
*Kalkatungic: Kalkatungu, Yalarnnga
*Arandic: Kaytetye, Alyawarre, Arrernte, Lower Arrernte, Andegerebinha, Anmatyerre
*Southwest: Walmajarri, Djaru, Gurindji, Mudburra, Ngarinman, Garadyari, Mangarla, Nyangumarta, Ngarla, Nyamal, Nyiyabali, Tjurruru, Kariyarra, Martuthunira, Nhuwala, Yindjibarndi, Binigura, Warriyangga, Jiwarli, Tharrgari, Thalanyji, Bayungu, Yinggarda, Maya, Malgana, Nhanda, Wajarri, Badimaya, Wirdimay, Wirangu, Warnman, Western Desert Language, Warlmanpa, Warlpiri, Ngardi, Nyungar, Ngadjunmaya, Adnyamathanha, Banggarla, Kaurna
Muk Thang
Dhuduroa
Kala Lagaw Ya (Mabuiag)
Muruwari
Warumungu
Flinders Island
Barrow Point
Bandjalang
Pallangahmiddang

Reference

*McConvell, Patrick and Nicholas Evans. (eds.) 1997. Archaeology and Linguistics: Global Perspectives on Ancient Australia. Melbourne: Oxford University Press