re comparative linguistics amr are c wayne edu seem lot seem hold another curious position namely cannot show relatedness group language exhibit systematic correspondence sound vocabulary language exhibit systematically relate morphological paradigm alexis manaster ramer lord watch thread somewhat jaundice eye m experience language vanuatu morphological paradigm least stable feature follow phonology most stable lexical ye remember teach mean morphology most reliable actually reliable criterion teach lot stuff experience show false why reliance morphology hangover elaboration comparative method indo european rather discovery sanskrit happen member language family particularly retentive morphologically whence generalization language fallacy extrapolate irish barmaid redhead easy measure count lexical similarity claim base measurement therefore easily open scrutiny refutation aside s discussion whether linguistics science mean karl popper here s one domain where hand measure morphological similarity worse systematic similarity morphological paradigm hardly open refutation speak devil receive letter yesterday merritt ruhlen appreciate send copy forthcome article anthropo concern probability chance resemblance comment mean sort salve perhap feel salt general dim view comparative linguistics various methodology mostly ad hoc without sound basis often relie complete misunderstand process work here few example same claim method crop perennially thought feeling today sigh j guy trl oz au 