the iroquoian languages are usually divided into two main groups: southern iroquoian (cherokee) and northern iroquoian (all others) based on the great differences in vocabulary and modern phonology. northern iroquoian is then further divided by lounsbury and mithun into proto-tuscarora-nottoway and lake iroquoian, although julian (2010) does not believe lake iroquoian to be a valid subgrouping.