Arandic

Arandic is a branch of the Pama–Nyungan language family, spoken in central Australia by Indigenous communities. It is typically described as including several closely related languages and varieties associated with the Aranda and Arrernte peoples. The exact internal classification is debated among linguists, but Arandic is commonly treated as a coherent subgroup within Pama–Nyungan, linking languages of the Alice Springs region and adjacent areas.

Major varieties commonly cited in sources include the Aranda languages (often called Western Aranda or Northern Aranda) and the Arrernte languages (including Central Arrernte and Eastern Arrernte). The Arandic varieties are spoken mainly in the Northern Territory, with extensions into South Australia, reflecting historical settlement patterns and language contact in central Australia.

Linguistically, Arandic languages are part of the Central Australian linguistic area and share features typical of Pama–Nyungan languages, such as elaborate pronoun systems and verb morphology, while retaining distinct lexical and phonological traits that mark individual varieties. Like many Indigenous Australian languages, Arandic languages have undergone substantial decline in the number of fluent speakers since the late 20th century, though revitalization efforts are underway in several communities.

The name Arandic is derived from ethnonyms used by the peoples associated with the languages (Aranda and Arrernte). Academic references may vary in their exact boundaries and terminology, but Arandic remains a recognized, if loosely defined, branch within the broader Pama–Nyungan family.