Sepik Languages - Classification

Classification

The classification used here is that of Malcolm Ross. It consists of two branches of Laycock's Sepik–Ramu proposal, the Sepik subphylum and Leonhard Schultze stock. The latter has been tentatively broken up by Ross into its constituent families, Walio and Papi, with Papi reassigned to the Sepik Hill branch of Sepik. The proposal is based on similar pronoun paradigms, but its internal structure is subject to revision. According to Ross, the most promising external relationship is not with Ramu, pace Laycock, but with the Torricelli family.

In the cladogram below, the small "families" at the ends of the branches are clearly valid units. Higher nodes (Upper Sepik, Middle Sepik, Sepik Hill) are less certain; Ethnologue (2009) accepts only Sepik Hill, Foley (2005) Sepik Hill and Middle Sepik.