West Papuan Highlands languages


The West Papuan Highland languages, also known as the Irian Highland languages, are a branch of the Trans–New Guinea language family proposed by Larson & Larson and confirmed by Timothy Usher. William A. Foley considers their Trans–New Guinea identity to be established.Dani familyPaniai Lakes family

History

Capell linked the Dani languages to Kwerba in 1962, a position followed by Wurm, who included Dani-Kwerba and the Wissel Lakes languages as branches of Trans–New Guinea. Larson & Larson proposed that the Dani and Paniai Lakes families, along with the Amung and Dem isolates, grouped together within TNG. Ross suggests a possible link between Dani and Paniai with his West TNG proposal. Usher confirms Larson & Larson and finds that the Amung and Dem languages are closest to each other.