The Karnic languages are a group of languages of the
Pama–Nyungan family. According to Dixon (2002), these are three separate families, but Bowern (2001) establishes regular paradigmatic connections among many of the languages, demonstrating them as a genealogical group. Bowern classifies them as follows:
*
Arabana
The Arabana, also known as the Ngarabana, are an Aboriginal Australian people of South Australia.
Name
The older tribal Exonym and endonym, autonym was Ngarabana, which may have been misheard by white settlers as Arabana, the term now generall ...
(
Wangganguru) (Western Karnic; orig. part of Palku)
*(node)
**Palku (Northern Karnic):
Pitta Pitta
The Pitapita or Pitta Pitta are an Aboriginal Australian people of the state of Queensland.
Language
They spoke Pitta Pitta language, Pitapita, one of the Karnic languages, which remains the best described dialect of an eastern group that compri ...
,
Wangka-Yutjurru (
Wanggamala
The Wanggamala people, also spelt Wangkamahdla, Wangkamadla, Wangkamanha, Wangkamana, Wonkamala, Wongkamala, Wonkamudla, and other variants, are an Aboriginal Australian people of the Northern Territory and Queensland.
Country
In Norman Tindale ...
)
**(node)
***Karna (Central Karnic)
****
Yandruwandha (
Yawarawarga)
****
Mithaka (in the north);
Diyari
The Diyari (), alternatively transcribed as Dieri (), is an Indigenous Australian group of the South Australian desert originating in and around the delta of Cooper Creek to the east of Lake Eyre.
Language
Diyari is classified as one of the K ...
,
Yarluyandi
The Yarluyandi, also known as Jeljendi, are an Aboriginal Australian people of north-eastern South Australia.
Country
In Norman Tindale's calculations, the Yarluyandi had some of land within their tribal domain, taking in the Mulligan River sou ...
–
Ngamini
The Ngameni are an indigenous Australian people of South Australia who once spoke the Ngameni language.
Country
According to Norman Tindale's estimation, the Ngameni held of tribal territory, along the southern edge of Goyder Lagoon, and on the ...
***Eastern Karnic:
Wilson River language
The Wilson River language, also known as "Modern" Wankumara (Wangkumara/ Wanggumara), is an Australian Aboriginal language of the Karnic family. It was spoken by several peoples along the Wilson River in Queensland. Of these, the Wanggumara ...
(Wangkumara,
Bundhamara (Punthamara), Ngandangara/Yarumarra, etc.)
Unclassified languages
Other languages of the area may be Karnic, but are too poorly attested to be secure. Breen (2007) writes of "Karna–
Mari fringe" languages which are "a discontinuous group of languages, mostly poorly attested, scattered between Karnic and
Mari languages but not showing much connection with either or with one another. The only one well attested is also the most remote geographically,
Kalkutungu". The possibilities listed but not included in Bowern (2001) due to lack of materials, and included in the list in Bowern (2011),
[Bowern, Claire. 2011.]
How Many Languages Were Spoken in Australia?
, ''Anggarrgoon: Australian languages on the web'', December 23, 2011
corrected
February 6, 2012) are Birria (
Pirriya/Bidia)
ot the Biri/Birria in Maric Pirlatapa,
Kungkari (and unconfirmed
Kungatutyi/Gungadidji, not the same as the Mari dialect),
Karuwali
The Karuwali were an indigenous people of the state of Queensland.
Country
Norman Tindale estimated that the Karuwali's lands extended over some of territory. This took in the area about Farrars Creek near Connemara southwards to Beetoota, Had ...
(and unconfirmed Kulumali)
ncluded under Midhaga in Dixon Unconfirmed names mentioned in Bowern (2011) are
Karangura,
Mayawali, and
Nhirrpi.
See also
Ngura; some varieties are Karnic, but others may be
Maric.
References
*Dixon, R. M. W. 2002. ''Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development.'' Cambridge University Press
*
{{Australian Aboriginal languages
Indigenous Australian languages in South Australia
Indigenous Australian languages in Queensland