The following is a list of proposed language families, which connect established families into larger genetic groups (macro-families). Support for these proposals vary from case to case. For example, the Dené–Yeniseian languages are a recent proposal which has been generally well received, whereas reconstructions of the Proto-World language are often viewed as fringe science. Proposals which are themselves based on other proposals have the likelihood of their parts noted in parentheses.
Under considerations
Proposed nameProposalAgreeDisagreeDoubtRef.AlarodianIgor M. Diakonoff (initiator), Sergei Starostin, Petri KallioJohanna Nichols, Allan R. BomhardAustricWilhelm Schmidt (initiator), La Vaughn H., Lawrence Reid, Gérard Diffloth, Paul Sidwell, Paul K. Benedict (later rejected), Sergei Starostin, John Bengtson, Automated Similarity Judgment Program (database)Robert Blust, Paul K. BenedictOstapirat, Weera. 2018. "Macrophyletic Trees of East Asian Languages Re examined." In Let's Talk About Trees, ed. by Ritsuko Kikusawa and Lawrence A. Reid. Osaka: Senri Ethnological Studies, Minpaku. . Wilhelm Schmidt (initiator)Paul K. Benedict (initiator, later rejected), Sergei Starostin, John Bengtson, Weera Ostapirat (tentative)John Bengtson (initiator)Austro-TaiPaul K. Benedict (initiator, also including Japanese), Weera Ostapirat, Alexander SmithGraham ThurgoodLaurent SagartSmith, Alexander (2022-01-28). Alves, Mark; Sidwell, Paul (eds.). "More Austro-Tai Comparisons and Observations on Vowel Correspondences". Journal of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society: Papers from the 30th Conference of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society (2021). 15 (3): 112–134. doi:10.5281/zenodo.5781307. ISSN 1836-6821. Retrieved 2022-02-14.Aztec–TanoanChukotko-Kamchatkan–AmuricDene–YeniseianAlfredo Trombetti (initiator), Merritt Ruhlen, Edward Vajda, Michael Krauss, Jeff Leer, James Kari, Heinrich Werner, Bernard Comrie, Johanna Nichols, Victor Golla, Michael Fortescue, Eric Hamp, Bill Poser, and Paul KiparskyGeorgiy Starostin (Vajda's proposal)Lyle CampbellStarostin, George (2012). "Dene-Yeniseian: a critical assessment". p. 137GulfHokanIndo-UralicHolger Pedersen (initiator), Kortlandt, Hannes Sköld, Alwin Kloekhorst, and Nikolai Dmitrievich AndreevChristian Carpelan, Asko Parpola, Petteri Koskikallio, and Johan Schalin Aikio, Ante (January 2022). "Proto-Uralic". In Bakró-Nagy, Marianne; Laakso, Johanna; Skribnik, Elena (eds.). Oxford Guide to the Uralic Languages. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.Kortlandt (initiator)Kortlandt, Frederik (2004). "NIVKH AS A URALO-SIBERIAN LANGUAGE". researchgate.net.Japonic-KoreanicJohn Whitman, Alexander Takenobu Frances-Ratte, Samuel E. MartinAlexander VovinJe–Tupi–CaribKarasukMacro-ChibchanMacro-Pama–NyunganMacro-PanoanMacro-SiouanMataco–GuaicuruMiao–DaiRyuichi Kosaka (initiator)Kosaka, Ryuichi (2002). "On the affiliation of Miao-Yao and Kadai: Can we posit the Miao-Dai family?" (PDF). Mon-Khmer Studies. 32: 71–100.Niger–CongoNilo-SaharanNorth CaucasianPenutianPonticÉmile Benveniste, Winfred P. Lehmann, Aert Kuipers, and John ColarussoColarusso, John (1997). "Proto-Pontic: Phyletic links between Proto-Indo-European and Proto-Northwest Caucasian". Journal of Indo-European Studies. 25: 119–51.QuechumaranSino-AustronesianLaurent Sagart (initiator), Stanley StarostaWeera Ostapirat, Alexander Vovin, George van DriemPaul Jen-kuei Li and Robert BlustSagart, L. (1990) "Chinese and Austronesian are genetically related". Paper presented at the 23rd International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics, October 1990, Arlington, Texas.Sagart, Laurent (2016). "The wider connections of Austronesian: A response to Blust (2009)". Diachronica. 33 (2): 255–281. doi:10.1075/dia.33.2.04sag.Tequiraca-CanichanaTerrence Kaufman (initiator)TotozoqueanUralic–YukaghirUralo-SiberianMichael Fortescue (initiator), Frederik KortlandtFortescue, Michael (2011). "The relationship of Nivkh to Chukotko-Kamchatkan revisited". Lingua. 121 (8): 1359–1376. doi:10.1016/j.lingua.2011.03.001.I would no longer wish to relate CK directly to [Uralo-Siberian], although I believe that some of the lexical evidence [...] will hold up in terms of borrowing/diffusion.Frederik Kortlandt (initiator)Kortlandt, Frederik (2004). "NIVKH AS A URALO-SIBERIAN LANGUAGE". researchgate.net.Yok-UtianGeoffrey Gamble (initiator), Catherine Callaghan
Widely rejected Below are language families that are already rejected by most linguists. As they are widely rejected, only linguists who agree are shown.
Proposed nameProposalStatusAgreeRef.AlmosanWidely rejectedJoseph Greenberg, Georgiy Starostin, Ilia Peiros, Murray Gell-MannAmerindRejectedJoseph Greenberg (initiator), Merritt RuhlenAltaicWidely rejected; generally considered a SprachbundAustronesian–OnganWidely rejectedJuliette Blevins (initiator)van Driem, George (2011). "Rice and the Austroasiatic and Hmong-Mien homelands". In N.J Enfield (ed.). Dynamics of human diversity: the case of mainland Southeast Asia. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. Retrieved 13 November 2021.BoreanWidely rejectedHarold C. Fleming (initiator), Sergei Starostin, Murray Gell-Mann, John BengtsonCoahuiltecanNative languages of modern TexasSprachbundDené–CaucasianWidely rejectedJohn Bengtson, George Starostin, Sergei StarostinDravido-KoreanObsoleteSusumu ŌnoElamo-DravidianWidely rejectedDavid W. McAlpin, Franklin SouthworthEurasiaticWidely rejectedMark Pagel, Joseph Greenberg, Merritt RuhlenIbero-CaucasianWidely rejectedArnold Chikobava (Initiator)Indo-PacificSeveral Pacific families.Widely rejectedJoseph Greenberg (initiator)Indo-SemiticWidely rejectedGraziadio Isaia Ascoli (initiator)JapheticWidely rejectedNikolai Marr (initiator)KhoisanWidely rejectedJoseph Greenberg (initiator)Macro-MayanWidely rejectedMosanSprachbundNostraticWidely rejectedVladimir DyboSino-UralicWidely rejectedJingyi Gao (initiator)TranseurasianWidely rejectedMartine Robbeets, Remco BouckaertUral–AltaicObsolete; considered a linguistic convergence zone
See also List of language families Macrofamily
References