comparative method syntactic reconstruction ongoing discussion list comparative method raised questions applicability syntactic reconstruction impression increasing frequency one comes across statements following literature attested languages language family x syntactic property therefore assume proto x property languages family language particular syntactic property therefore assume property innovation present proto words tacit assumption comparative method applied syntax could anything resembling latin syntax reconstructed comparison syntax modern romance languages modern germanic languages svo therefore reconstruct proto germanic almost surely incorrectly svo standard introductions historical linguistics e g anttila jeffers lehiste etc argue comparative method inapplicable syntactic reconstruction due fact analog syntax regular sound change oversimplifying bit words composed phonemes comparative method assumes phonemic change one word particular environment mirrored like changes words similar environments syntactic analogues words phonemes furthermore syntactic change fairly catyclysmic restructuring grammars wholesale one generation unlikely impossible phonological systems would interested hearing opinions others question syntactic reconstruction basis comparing similarities differences also wonder discussion literature led change opinion took standard position comparative method inapplicable fritz newmeyer fjn u washington edu