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in that they most often come about through semantic shift. Since this process may occur
repeatedly and independently, it is not fully reliable.”
In addition, in this study we have seen how there can be confusion between
isoglosses and innovations. An isogloss indicates a linguistic boundary, but this may not
necessarily indicate that the opposing words both represent innovations at the same
genetic level.
4. The comparative method. The comparative method has been traditionally
considered the most accurate means by which to establish the genetic relationships
between languages. The method involves comparing lexical items and grammatical forms
between languages, setting up correspondences between the phonemes of the languages,
and then making hypotheses about the structure of the proto-language and the sound laws
which led to the development of the present-day languages in the family.
The use of the comparative method has been neglected in Niger-Congo
classification. It has been used on a micro level to establish the genetic relationship of
certain subgroups within Niger-Congo, e.g. Bantu, but to date there has been no
concerted effort to establish a proto-system for Niger-Congo as a whole, along with the
sound laws which led to the modern languages in the family. Dixon (1997: 32-35) does
not mince words in criticizing the Africanists for this, but to their credit, the Africanists
have stated all along the tentative nature of their conclusions and the need for the
application of the comparative method to verify their findings.
Dixon (1997) points out that there are certain problems associated with the
comparative method. First, it cannot be used blindly as a discovery procedure to
mechanically produce a reconstruction. Dixon provides a couple of hypothetical
examples to illustrate this point. Second, he quotes Bloomfield (1933), who states:
The comparative method, then—our only method for the reconstruction of
prehistoric language—would work accurately for absolutely uniform speechcommunities
and sudden, sharp cleavages. Since these presuppositions are never
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