Paman languages

Updated on Nov 07, 2023

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Linguistic classification Pama–Nyungan Paman		Glottolog pama1251

Geographic distribution Cape York Peninsula, Queensland

The Paman languages are an Australian language family spoken on the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland. First noted by Kenneth Hale, Paman is noteworthy for the profound phonological changes which have affected some of its descendants.

Classification

Various classifications of the Paman languages exist. The one outlined below is that of R. W. Dixon, though he does not accept that these branches are necessarily related to each other.

Geographically, running down the east coast, they are:

North Cape York (Northern Paman and Umpila)

Umbindhamu (†)

Lamalamic: Umbuygamu (†), Lama-Lama (nearly extinct) (closely related)

Yalgawarra (Flinders Island) (†)

Yalanjic: Guugu Yimidhirr, Gugu Yalandyi, Barrow Point (†)

Mbariman-Gudhinma (Gugu Warra) (inland) (†)

Djabugay (†)

Down the west coast, they are:

North Cape York (Northern Paman and Wik)

Southwestern (See)

Kok Narr (†)

Norman Paman: Kurtjar, Kuthant (closely related)

Gugadj (†)

In the interior, south of Wik, they are:

Thaypan (Rarmul Pama, closely related): Thaypan (?Rarmul) (nearly extinct), Aghu Tharrnggala (†), Ikarranggali–Alungul–Angkula (†), Takalak (†)

Southern: Agwamin (†), Mbabaram (†), Mbara (†), Walangama (†)

The name Gugu Mini means 'good speech', and have been applied to several languages in the Thaypan area. 'Possum language' (Koko-Possum, Gugu Yawa) is another generic name of this area.

The unclassified Marrett River language (†) was presumably Paman, though distinct from its neighbors, as presumably was Wik Paach (†). The Mayabic languages (†) to the southwest were once classified as Paman, but have been excluded in Bowern (2011). Alodja may have been another Thaypan / Rarmul Pama language.

References

Paman languages Wikipedia

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