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.[citation needed]

Wati
Geographic
distribution
central Australia
Linguistic classificationPama–Nyungan
  • Desert Nyungic
    • Wati
Subdivisions
Glottologwati1241
Wati languages (green) among other Pama–Nyungan (tan)

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).

References edit

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