West Papuan Highlands languages#Lexical comparison
{{Short description|Family of Trans-New Guinea languages}}
{{cleanup lang|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox language family
|name=West Papuan Highlands
|altname=Irian Highlands
|region=Highlands of Irian Jaya
|familycolor=Papuan
|fam1=Trans–New Guinea
|child1=Dani
|child2=Paniai Lakes
|child3=Amung–Dem
|glotto=none
|map=Irian Highlands languages.svg
|mapcaption=Map: The Irian Highlands languages of New Guinea
{{legend|#FF5E5F|The Irian Highlands families}}
{{legend|#7BB5B6|Other Trans–New Guinea families}}
{{legend|#D9D9D9|Other Papuan languages}}
{{legend|#E09D00|Austronesian languages}}
{{legend|white|Uninhabited}}
}}
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 (1972) and confirmed by Timothy Usher.[https://newguineaworld.linguistik.uzh.ch/families/trans-new-guinea/west-papuan-highlands NewGuineaWorld - West Papuan Highlands] William A. Foley considers their Trans–New Guinea identity to be established.
- Dani (Balim Valley) family
- Paniai Lakes (Wissel Lakes) family
- Amung–Dem
- Uhunduni (Amung, Damal)
- Dem
History
Capell linked the Dani languages to Kwerba in 1962, a position followed by Wurm, who included Dani-Kwerba and the Wissel Lakes (Paniai Lakes) languages as branches of Trans–New Guinea. Larson & Larson (1972) proposed that the Dani and Paniai Lakes families, along with the Amung and Dem isolates, grouped together within TNG. Ross (2005) 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.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{West Trans–New Guinea languages}}
{{Papuan languages}}