Maran or Maric is an extinct branch of the Pama–Nyungan languages, Pama–Nyungan family of Australian languages formerly spoken throughout much of Queensland by many of the Murri peoples. The well attested Maric languages are clearly related; however, many languages of the area became extinct before much could be documented of them, and their classification is uncertain. The clear Maric languages are: *Maric **Bidyara language, Bidyara (numerous varieties) **Biri language, Biri (several varieties) **Warrungu language, Warrungu (& Gugu-Badhun, Gudjal) **(Kingkel languages, Kingkel?): Darumbal language, Darumbal Dharumbal was added by Bowern (2011); it had been classified in the Kingkel branch of Waka–Kabic languages, Waka–Kabic. It is not clear if the other Kingkel language, Bayali language, Bayali, is also Maric; Bayali and Darumbal are not close.

Unclassified languages

Ngaro language, Ngaro and Giya language, Giya (Bumbarra), spoken on the coast, may also have been Maric, the latter perhaps a dialect of Biri. Of the interior, to the west, Breen (2007) writes of "Karnic languages, Karna–Mari fringe" languages which are "a discontinuous group of languages, mostly poorly attested, scattered between Karnic languages, 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 language, Kalkutungu". This includes the Ngura languages, several of which belong to the Karnic languages, Karnic branch of Pama–Nyungan (such as the Wilson River language, Wilson River dialects spoken by the Galali people, Galali and Wangkumara, though not the Bulloo River language, Bulloo River dialects spoken by the same). However, Bowern (2011) lists the Badjiri language, Badjiri variety as Maric. Other poorly attested interior languages which may have been Maric include Ngaygungu language, Ngaygungu (Dixon 2002), Bindal language, Bindal (Bowern 2011), Barna language, Barna (Bowern 2011), Dhungaloo language, Dhungaloo (doubtful in Bowern, not listed at AIATSIS), and Yirandhali language, Yirandhali (Dixon, Bowern). Yiman language, Yiman near the coast was ethnically Bidjara. Dixon's "Greater Maric" area listed in Bowern (2011) also includes Guwa language, Guwa (Goa) and Yanda language, Yanda. See also Karnic languages for additional varieties from the area.

References

Maric languages, Indigenous Australian languages in Queensland {{ia-lang-stub