Western Malayo-Polynesian languages

The Western Malayo-Polynesian languages, also known as the Hesperonesian languages, are a paraphyletic grouping of Austronesian languages that includes those Malayo-Polynesian languages that do not belong to the Central–Eastern [Malayo-Polynesian languages|Central–Eastern Malayo-Polynesian] branch. This includes all Austronesian languages spoken in Madagascar, Mainland [Southeast Asia], the Philippines, the Greater [Sunda Islands], Bali, Lombok, the western half of Sumbawa, Palau and the Mariana Islands.
Western Malayo-Polynesian was originally proposed by Robert Blust as a sister branch within Malayo-Polynesian coordinate to the CEMP branch. Because there are no features that define the WMP languages positively as a subgroup, recent classifications have abandoned it.