Wati languages explained

Wati
Region:central Australia
Familycolor:Australian
Fam2:Desert Nyungic
Child3:Ngardi?
Glotto:wati1241
Glottorefname:Wati
Map:Wati languages.png
Mapcaption:Wati languages (green) among other Pama–Nyungan (tan)

The Wati languages are the dominant Pama–Nyungan languages of central Australia. They include the moribund Wanman language and the Western Desert dialect continuum, which is sometimes considered to be a dozen distinct languages. It is not clear whether Antakarinya is Warnman or Western Desert.

Bowern (2011) adds Ngardi,[1] which had previously been classified as Ngumpin–Yapa.

Wati is generally included in Southwest Pama–Nyungan by those who accept that proposal. However, SW Pama–Nyungan may be an areal group, and is not included in Bowern (2011).

Notes and References

  1. Bowern, Claire. 2011. "How Many Languages Were Spoken in Australia?", Anggarrgoon: Australian languages on the web, December 23, 2011 (corrected February 6, 2012)