In linguistics, Melanesian is an obsolete term referring to the Austronesian languages of Melanesia, that is, the Oceanic, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian or Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian languages apart from Polynesian and Micronesian. A typical classification of the Austronesian languages around 1970 divided them into branches including Formosan, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Melanesian, Micronesian and Polynesian languages, a scheme since superseded by more detailed subgrouping.
Facts
Debunked
Proto-Language StatusNot a genealogical group; at best paraphyletic, likely polyphyletic 1 Sources describe the classification as contested In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Melanesia, found in there.
Sources
1. Melanesian languages - Wikipedia
Classification sectionQuote, Classification section
It is now known that the Melanesian languages do not form a genealogical node: they are at best paraphyletic, and very likely polyphyletic
Wikidata: Melanesian languages
Wikidata Q2456227, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
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