First ed. published: [Port Moresby], Papua New Guinea : University of Papua New Guinea Press ; Suva, Fiji : Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific, 1987
Includes bibliographical references (pages 332-336) and index
Chart of phonetic symbols -- Maps of languages referred to in the text -- Ch. 1. Introduction -- Ch. 2. Types of Sound Change -- Ch. 3. Expressing Sound Changes -- Ch. 4. Phonetic vs Phonemic Change -- Ch. 5. The Comparative Method -- Ch. 6. Internal Reconstruction -- Ch. 7. Grammatical, Semantic, and Lexical Change -- Ch. 8. Subgrouping -- Ch. 9. Causes of Language Change -- Ch. 10. Observing Language Change -- Ch. 11. Problems with Traditional Assumptions -- Ch. 12. Language Contact -- Ch. 13. Cultural Reconstruction -- Data Sets -- 1. Palauan (Micronesia) -- 2. Nganyaywana (northern New South Wales) -- 3. Mbabaram (northern Queensland) -- 4. Yimas and Karawari (East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea) -- 5. Lakalai (New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea) -- 6. Suena and Zia (Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea) -- 7. Korafe, Notu and Binandere (Oro Province, Papua New Guinea) -- 8. Paamese (Vanuatu) -- 9. Motu (Central Province, Papua New Guinea) -- 10. Sepa, Manam, Kairiru and Sera (coastal Sepik, Papua New Guinea) -- 11. Burduna (Western Australia) -- 12. Quebec French (Canada) -- Language Index