English
Pama-Nyungan
Pama-Nyungan comes from English pama ‘man, person’.
- English1500–presentpama‘man, person’
- EnglishtodayPama-Nyungan
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- English1500–presentpama‘man, person’
- EnglishtodayPama-Nyungan
Formed from -an
The story
Apparently coined by American linguist Kenneth L. Hale (1934-2001), to show the vast geographical extent of the family.
Every English word from English pama
Today it means
name A proposed language family encompassing most Australian Aboriginal languages, including Pitjantjatjara and Warlpiri, but excluding those spoken in the northwest.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / English pama / Pama-Nyungan