Table of Contents

1. Acknowledgements; 2. Map; 3. Contributor's addresses; 4. Foreword (by Campbell, Lyle); 5. Introduction: subgrouping methodology in historical linguistics (by Bowern, Claire); 6. A methodological history of Australian linguistic classification (by Koch, Harold); 7. Pama-Nyungan as a genetic entity (by Miceli, Luisa); 8. The coherence and distinctiveness of the Pama-Nyungan language family within the Australian linguistic phylum (by O'Grady, Geoffrey); 9. Pama-Nyungan: phonological reconstruction and status as a phylogenetic group (by Alpher, Barry); 10. The Arandic subgroup of Australian languages (by Koch, Harold); 11. The Ngumpin-Yapa subgroup (by McConvell, Patrick); 12. Thura-Yura as a subgroup (by Simpson, Jane); 13. The Yarli languages (by Hercus, Luise); 14. Evolution of the verb conjugations in the Ngarna languages (by Breen, Gavan); 15. The failure of the evidence of shared innovations in Cape York Peninsula (by Black, Paul); 16. Diagnostic similarities and differences between Nyulnyulan and neighbouring languages (by Bowern, Claire); 17. Revisiting Proto-Mirndi (by Green, Ian); 18. Stem forms and paradigm reshaping in Gunwinyguan (by Baker, Brett); 19. Combined references; 20. Language index; 21. Subject index; 22. Appendices

Reviews

This volume critically assesses interrelationships between Australian languages in the light of the most recent descriptive data and a detailed understanding of the most recent developments in the comparative method. The result is a wonderfully detailed and convincing rebuttal of claims that Australian languages have been subject to different kinds of forces.
*Terry Crowley, University of Waikato*

[...] a strong volume of reconstruction, sophisticated in its methodology and successful in its application.
*Barry J. Blake, La Trobe University, Australia, in Language Vol. 82:2 (2006)*

It's by far the best statement I've ever seen on issues of subgrouping methodology; [...] it would be ideal for assignment to students of historical linguistics who need to know about these issues. It is also, of course, a valuable introduction to the issues for specialists in Australian historical linguistics.
*Sarah Thomason, University of Michigan [on the Introduction]*

This book marks a coming of age of Australian historical linguistics. It is the first concerted attempt by Australianists to apply the classical comparative method to the core issues of subgrouping, reconstruction and diffusion and it does so with considerable success.
*Andrew Pawley, Australian National University*