List of proposed language families


The following is a list of proposed language families, which connect established families into larger genetic groups. 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, Sergei Starostin, Petri KallioJohanna Nichols, Allan R. Bomhard
AustricWilhelm Schmidt, La Vaughn H., Lawrence Reid, G. Diffloth, Paul Sidwell, Paul K. Benedict, Sergei Starostin, John Bengtson, ASJPRobert Blust, Paul K. Benedict
AustricWilhelm Schmidt Robert Blust, Paul K. Benedict
AustricPaul K. Benedict, Sergei Starostin, John BengtsonRobert Blust, Paul K. Benedict
AustricJohn Bengtson Robert Blust, Paul K. Benedict
Austro-TaiPaul Benedict, Ostapirat, SmithThurgoodSagart
Aztec–Tanoan
Chukotko-Kamchatkan–Amuric
Dené–YeniseianAlfredo Trombetti, 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
Gulf
Hokan
Indo-UralicHolger Pedersen, Kortlandt, Hannes Sköld, Alwin Kloekhorst, and Nikolai Dmitrievich AndreevChristian Carpelan, Asko Parpola, Petteri Koskikallio, and Johan Schalin
Indo-UralicKortlandt Christian Carpelan, Asko Parpola, Petteri Koskikallio, and Johan Schalin
Je–Tupi–Carib
Karasuk
Macro-Chibchan
Macro-Pama–Nyungan
Macro-Panoan
Macro-Siouan
Mataco–Guaicuru
Miao–DaiRyuichi Kosaka
Niger–Congo
Nilo-Saharan
North Caucasian
Penutian
PonticÉmile Benveniste, Winfred P. Lehmann, Aert Kuipers, and John Colarusso
Quechumaran
Serbi–Mongolic
Sino-AustronesianLaurent Sagart, Stanley StarostaWeera Ostapirat, Alexander Vovin, George van DriemPaul Jen-kuei Li and Robert Blust
Totozoquean
Uralic–Yukaghir
Uralo-SiberianMichael Fortescue, Frederik Kortlandt
Uralo-SiberianFrederik Kortlandt
Yok-UtianGeoffrey Gamble, 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 nameDescriptionStatusAgreeRef.
AlmosanAlgic, Kutenai and MosanWidely rejectedJoseph Greenberg, Georgiy Starostin, Ilia Peiros, Murray Gell-Mann
AmerindAll languages in the Americas which do not belong to the Eskimo–Aleut or Na–Dene familiesWidely rejectedJoseph Greenberg, Merritt Ruhlen
AltaicTurkic, Mongolic, Tungusic, Koreanic and Japonic Widely rejected; generally considered a SprachbundGeorgiy Starostin, Sergei Starostin, Frederik Kortlandt
Austronesian–OnganOngan and AustronesianWidely rejectedJuliette Blevins
BoreanAll families except in sub-Saharan Africa, New Guinea, Australia, and the Andaman IslandsWidely rejectedHarold C. Fleming, Sergei Starostin, Murray Gell-Mann, John Bengtson
CoahuiltecanNative languages of modern TexasSprachbund
Dene–CaucasianNa-Dené, North Caucasian, Sino-Tibetan, Yeniseian, and others.Widely rejectedSergei Starostin, John Bengtson
Dravido-KoreanDravidian and KoreanicObsoleteSusumu Ōno
Elamo-DravidianElamite and DravidianWidely rejectedDavid W. McAlpin, Franklin Southworth
EurasiaticIndo-European,Uralic,Altaic,Dravidian,Eskaleut, and othersWidely rejectedMark Pagel, Joseph Greenberg, Merritt Ruhlen
Ibero-CaucasianKartvelian, Northwest Caucasian, Northeast CaucasianWidely rejectedArnold Chikobava
Indo-PacificSeveral Pacific families.Widely rejectedJoseph Greenberg
Indo-SemiticIndo-European languages and Semitic languages or Afroasiatic languagesWidely rejectedGraziadio Isaia Ascoli
JapheticKartvelian, Basque, and Semitic languages or Afroasiatic languagesWidely rejectedNikolai Marr
KhoisanAfrican click-consonant languages that do not belong to any other macrophylaWidely rejectedJoseph Greenberg
Macro-MayanMayan with Totonacan, Mixe–Zoque, and HuaveWidely rejected
MosanSalishan, Wakashan, and Chimakuan languages of Pacific Northwest North AmericaSprachbund
NostraticAfroasiatic, Kartvelian, Dravidian and EurasiaticWidely rejectedVladimir Dybo
Ural–AltaicUralic and AltaicObsolete; considered a linguistic convergence zone
Sino-UralicUralic, SiniticWidely rejectedJingyi Gao