genetic classification wish make comments issue recent discussion nostratic problem demonstrating distant genetic relationships skirted around believe underlies issues various people directly addressing assumption seems underly much discussion hypotheses regarding genetic relationships interesting unless proven true find rather odd assumption one seem made kinds hypotheses linguistics anywhere else science far know let us set aside sake argument oftnoted point notion proof really applicable empirical hypotheses assume term used loosely arbitrary high level certainty seems fair say fairly widespread disinterest hypotheses like nostratic hypothesis widely believed assume true sake argument available evidence nostratic falls short imaginary level certainty deserves label proven common type reaction unproven hypotheses demonstrated observed similarities might due chance borrowing suppose someone take attitude towards comparative reconstruction protolanguages suppose someone object comparative reconstruction anything shallow groups grounds one never prove reconstructions correct one object certain claims genetic relationships grounds one conclusively eliminate possibility observed similarities might due accident borrowing one could equally well object virtually hypotheses surrounding comparative reconstruction grounds one conclusively eliminate alternative possibilities comparative method way come best guess one make protolanguage never provides proof reconstruction fact correct bother answer obvious hypotheses represent best guesses point time much science many linguists seem object applying way thinking hypotheses genetic relationships many historical linguists find hypotheses like nostratic hypothesis either laughable upsetting nt react way comparative reconstructions since also unproven nt rush read everything find nostratic conclude evidence tantalizing conclusive really exciting hypothesis double standard want suggest answer question answer right provides insight nature many debates surrounding controversial hypotheses genetic relationship namely people find questions genetic classification intrinsically interesting quite apart detailed historical work plays role supporting hypotheses people however primarily interested detailed historical work find questions genetic classification intrinsically interesting interesting far inevitable consequence historical work people first sort likely find recent work reclassifying penutian languages exciting people latter sort unlikely react way unless penutian specialists one moves back time ability apply comparative method becomes increasingly difficult detailed historical work becomes increasingly speculative many historical linguists dissatisfying time depth always much confident genetic classification comparative reconstructions confidence indo european language family surely greater confidence specific claims proto indo european move back time expect hypotheses entirely confident least promising evidence comparative reconstruction going sufficiently speculative satisfying linguists interested traditional comparative work since linguists interested genetic classification except biproduct detailed historical work linguists likely find hypotheses uninteresting hand linguists find questions genetic classification inherently interesting fact detailed historical work may possible irrelevant fact hypothesis unproven unprovable may source concern fact comparative reconstructions always unproven unprovable view correct much debate surrounding controversial hypotheses genetic classification based substantive questions simply sorts questions different people find interesting matthew dryer