All told, Sepik-Ramu consists of a hundred languages of the Sepik and Ramu river basins of northern Papua New Guinea, spoken by only 200 000 people in all. The languages tend to have simple phonologies, with few consonants or vowels and usually no tones.

The best known Sepik-Ramu language is Iatmül. The most populous are Iatmül's fellow Ndu languages Abelam and Boiken, with about 35 000 speakers apiece.

Malcolm Ross re-evaluated the Sepik-Ramu hypothesis in 2005 and found no evidence that it forms a valid family. However, all of the constituent branches, except for Yuat within Ramu, hold together in his evaluation. Ross links Nor-Pondo to Ramu in a Ramu-Lower Sepik proposal, places Leonhard Schultze (tentatively broken up into Walio and Papi) within an extented Sepik family, and treats Yuat and Taiap and independent families.

Classification

Sepik-Ramu phylum (based on Laycock 1973)

• Taiap isolate (80 speakers)
• Leonard Schultze stock
• Walio family: Walio, Pei, Yawiyo, Tuwari (700 speakers)
• Papi family: Papi, Suarmin (200 speakers)

• Nor-Pondo stock (6 languages)
• Nor family: Murik, Kopar (1200 speakers)
• Pondo family: Chambri, Yimas, Karawari, Angoram, (12 000 speakers)

• Ramu subphylum (37 languages)
• Ramu superstock (29 languages)
• Grass stock (5 languages)
• Banaro isolate
• Grass family: Kambot, Aion, Adjora, Gorovu
• Arafundi family: Alfendio, Meakambut
• Annaberg stock (3 languages)
• Rao isolate
• Aian family: Anor, Aiome
• Ruboni stock (8 languages)
• Ottilien family: Watam, Gamei, Kaian, Bosman, Awar
• Misegian family: Giri, Sepen, Mikarew
• Goam stock (11 languages)
• Ataitan family: Andarum, Igom, Tangu, Tanguat
• Tamolan family: Romkun, Breri, Kominimung, Igana, Akrukay, Itutang, Midsivindi
• Yuat-Langam superstock (13 languages)
• Mongol-Langam family: (Langam, Mongol, Yaul
• Yuat-Maramba stock
• Maramaba isolate
• Yuat family: Changriwa, Kyenele, Mekmek, Miyak, Biwat (Mundugumor), Bun

• Sepik subphylum (50 languages)
• Biksi: Kimki, Yetfa (family-level group or closer?)
• Upper Sepik stock
• Abau isolate
• Iwam family: Iwam, Sepik Iwam, Amal
• Wogamusin family: Wogamusin, Chenapian
• Ram family: Karawa, Bouye, Autu
• Tama family: Ayi, Pasi, Pahi, Mehek, Yessan-Mayo
• Yellow River family: Namie, Ak, Awun
• Middle Sepik stock
• Yerakai isolate
• Nukuma family: Kwoma, Kwanga
• Ndu family: Iatmul, Ngala, Manambu, Kaunga, Abelam, Boiken, Sawos, Kwasengen
• Sepik Hill stock
• Sanio family: Sanio, Paka, Gabiano, Piame, Bikaru, Hewa
• Bahinemo family: Bitara, Bahinemo, Mari, Bisis, Watakataui, Kapriman, Sumariup
• Alamblak family: Kaningara, Alamblak

See also

• Papuan languages