Grounded in a constructional understanding of language, this book offers a comprehensive methodology for syntactic reconstruction, addressing ongoing debates among historical linguists. The author applies this methodology to reconstruct Proto-Sogeram, the ancestor of ten languages in Papua New Guinea, exploring phonology, lexicon, and morphosyntax. The culmination of this work is a detailed sketch of Proto-Sogeram grammar, based on original fieldwork, making it a significant contribution to the study of Papuan languages and language change.
