Excerpt from change request document:

In addition to this change in primary name, there is also evidence that Paakantyi should be merged with Bandjigali (bjd), which Ethnologue classifies as a separate language (Bowern 2011b; AUSTLANG 2011).

Wafer and Lisserrague state that "Hercus has demonstrated in detail (1980, 1982, 1989, 1993, 1994) that the various distinct but closely related language varieties in this group... are dialects of a single language. She divides the "Darling River (Paakantyi) Language Group" into the 'northern dialects' and the 'southern dialects'" (2008: 264).

Bandjigali (bjd) is considered by Bowern (2011b), AUSTLANG, and Wafer and Lisserague (2008: 263, 276) to be one of many dialects of Paakanti and it should be merged with Paakantyi. Wafer and Lisserague follow Hercus 1993 in how she groups the dialects:

Paakantyi: language

1. Northern Paakantyi (Northern Darling River): Dialect Group (2008: 263)

   • Paaruntyi: Dialect (2008: 268)
   • Kurnu: Dialect (2008: 269)
   • Nhaawuparlku: Dialect (2008: 270)
   • Milpulo: Dialect (2008: 271)

2. Southern Paakantyi (Southern Darling River): Dialect Group (2008: 263)

   • Wilyaali: Dialect (2008: 272)
   • Thangkaali: Dialect (2008: 273)
   • Pulaali: Dialect (2008: 274)
   • Wanyuparlku: Dialect (2008: 275)
   • Pantyikali: (Ethnologue's Bandjigali, bjd) Dialect (2008: 276)
   • Marrawarra: Dialect (2008: 277)
   • Southern Paakantyi (Proper): Dialect (2008: 278)
   • Parrintyi: Dialect (2008: 279)

Paakantyi is still considered to be the sole member of a subgroup variously called Paakantyi by Bowern (2010a) and AUSTLANG (2011) and Darling River Group by Lissarrague and Wafer (2008: 263). This subgroup is part of the Pama-Nyungan family.