Breen's (2007:190-196) analysis of 250-item word lists for Badjidi (D31), Wangkumara L25, Kalali D30 and Margany D42 shows that the closest language to Badjidi (D31) is Kalali (44% cognate count). Breen (2007:180) classifies Badjidi and Kalali as 'Karna-Mari fringe' languages which are 'a discontinuous group of languages, mostly poorly attested, scattered between Karnic and Mari languages but not showing much connection with either or with one another'.
Tindale's (1974) and Horton's (1996) maps locate this language in Queensland. However, the maps in Breen (1971) and McDonald and Wurm (1979:viii-ix) show Badjiri also extending into New South Wales.
Four word lists in Curr (1887:276-285) are attributed to Budjari / Badjiri in Mura. However, Breen (1981:276-277) says they might be attributable to other languages: the Conn list to Dharawala D45 or Bidjara E37, Looker to Gunggari D37, Playfair to Marrgany D42 or Gunya D43, and Hollingsworth to Gunya D43.
From near Hungerford to Eulo on the Paroo River; east to near Barringun, Tinnenburra, Tuen, and Cunna-mulla; at Caiwarro and eastern side of Currawinya. Not extending very far west of Paroo River (Tindale 1974).
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Speaker numbers were measured differently across the censuses and various other sources listed in AUSTLANG. You are encouraged to refer to the sources.
Speaker numbers for ‘NILS 2004’ and ‘2005 estimate’ come from 'Table F.3: Numbers of speakers of Australian Indigenous languages (various surveys)' in 'Appendix F NILS endangerment and absolute number results' in McConvell, Marmion and McNicol 2005, pages 198-230 (PDF, 2.5MB).
