Nyungic languages
| Nyungic | |
|---|---|
| (reduced) | |
| Geographic distribution | South West (Western Australia) |
| Linguistic classification | Pama–Nyungan
|
| Subdivisions | |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | None |
 Nyungic languages (green) among other Pama–Nyungan (tan). Classification of Bowern (2011). Noongar is the section in the southwest. | |
The Nyungic languages are the south-westernmost of the Australian Aboriginal languages:[1]
- Nyungic
- Noongar language
- Galaagu language (Kalarko, Malpa)
- Kalaamaya–Natingero
Galaagu and Kalaamaya/Natingero are poorly attested; it is not clear how close they are to each other or to Noongar, and Kalaamaya may have been a variety of Noongar proper. A variety called Njakinjaki (Nyaki Nyaki) has been variously said to be a dialect of Noongar or of Kalaamaya.[2]
The term Nyungic has been used for the bulk of the Southwest Pama–Nyungan languages (see). However, that is a geographical group, not a demonstrable family. Bowern restricts both terms to Noongar plus Galaagu, which is poorly attested and had been misclassified as one of the Mirning languages.
References
[edit]- ^ Bowern, Claire. 2011. "How Many Languages Were Spoken in Australia?", Anggarrgoon: Australian languages on the web, 23 December 2011 (corrected 6 February 2012)
- ^ A1 Nyaki Nyaki / Njaki Njaki at the Australian Indigenous Languages Database, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies