The Paman languages are an Australian language family spoken on Cape York Peninsula, 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. M. W. Dixon, though he does not accept that these branches are necessarily related to each other.See Dixon (2002), pp. xxx–xlii.
Geographically, running down the east coast, they are: North Cape York Northern Paman Umpila Umbindhamu Lamalamic Umbuygamu Lamu-Lamu Yalgawarra Yalanjic Guugu Yimithirr Guugu Yalandji Barrow Point (>> Wik?) Mbariman-Gudhinma Djabugay
Down the west coast, they are: North Cape York Northern Paman Wik Southwestern Upper Southwest Paman Kuuk Thaayorre Kuuk Yak Kunjen (incl. Ogh Undjan) Yir-Yoront (incl. Yirrk-Thangalkl) Koko-Bera (incl. Gugu Dhaw) Kok-Nar Norman Paman Kurtjar Kuthant Gugadj
In the interior, south of Wik, they are: Thaypan Gugu Thaypan (?Rarmul) Aghu Tharrnggala Ikarranggal-Alungul-Angkula Ikarranggal Alungul Angkula Takalak Southern Agwamin Mbabaram Mbara Walangama
The name Gugu Mini means 'good speech', and has 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).Bowern, Claire. 2011. "How Many Languages Were Spoken in Australia? ", Anggarrgoon: Australian languages on the web, 23 December 2011 (corrected 6 February 2012) Alodja may have been another Thaypan / Rarmul Pama language.
See also Pama–Maran languages
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