Baliem Valley languages

Dani
Baliem Valley
Geographic
distribution
Baliem Valley in Highland Papua
EthnicityDani, Lani, Yali, etc
Linguistic classificationTrans–New Guinea
Subdivisions
  • Wano
  • Dani proper
  • Ngalik
Language codes
Glottologdani1287

The Dani or Baliem Valley languages are a family of clearly related Trans–New Guinea languages spoken by the Dani and related peoples in the Baliem Valley in the Highland Papua, Indonesia. Foley (2003) considers their Trans–New Guinea language group status to be established. They may be most closely related to the languages of Paniai Lakes, but this is not yet clear. Capell (1962) posited that their closest relatives were the Kwerba languages, which Ross (2005) rejects.