Comparative Method and Comparative Reconstruction

The Comparative Method is a historical linguist's main tool to establish a genealogical relationship between languages and to reconstruct their most recent common ancestor in terms of phonology, lexicon, morphology, and, to a lesser extent, syntax. Mainly with examples from the Bantu (Niger‐Congo) and Transeurasian language families, we review the Comparative Method's application to phonological, lexical, and morphological comparison and comparative reconstruction and its benefits and limitations for uncovering deep language history, also in areas of the world without long‐standing written traditions.