In the
lexicostatistic classification of O'Grady, Voegelin and Voegelin, the Daly languages were put in four distinct families.
Darrell Tryon combined these into a single family, with the exception of
Murrinh-patha. However, such methodologies are less effective with languages with a long history of word borrowing. Linguist Ian Green found that the languages could not be shown to be related by the
comparative method, and so should be considered five independent families and
language isolates. The features they do share also tend to be shared with neighboring languages outside the Daly group. The established families (according to Nordlinger) are: •
Daly •
Wagaydyic (Anson Bay) •
Batjamalh (Wadjiginy) •
Pungu Pungu (Kandjerramalh) •
Malak-Malak (Nguluk Wanggar) •
Western Daly •
Marri Ngarr •
Merranunggu •
Marrithiyel •
Marramaninjsji •
Eastern Daly •
Matngele (Werret/Dakayu) •
Kamu •
Southern Daly •
Murrinh-patha •
Ngan’gityemerri Malak-Malak and Wagaydyic were once considered grouped into a Northern Daly family. Contemporary classifications may use Northern Daly to refer to Malak-Malak to the exclusion of the Wagaydyic languages (as Nordlinger does). ==Vocabulary==