Francesca Merlan supports its grouping together with Yangmanic,[6] citing that both together differ from neighbouring languages (such as the Gunwinyguan language Jawoyn and Mangarrayi) while sharing very similar syntax with each other, such as their similar use of 'verbal particles'.

The phonological inventory of Wardaman proper: The alveolo-palatals are pronounced with the blade of the tongue; at the end of a syllable they may sound like yn and yl to an English ear.

There is very little acoustic difference between the two apical series compared to other languages in the area.

Francesca describes the w as bilabial, and notes that there is little or no lip rounding or protrusion (except in assimilation to a following /u/ or /o/).

Capell (1940) lists the following basic vocabulary items for Wadaman (Wardaman):[8]