1986 (Cambridge language surveys)
Papuan languages
In some respects this book may seem premature. Papuan languages are probably the most poorly known in the world; of over 700 languages in more than sixty language families, no more than fifty languages or less than ten per cent are in any sense adequately documented. For some languages little more than a name is available, and for many others only a brief word-list. Indeed, entire language families are often represented by no more than a brief word-list.
Papuan languages
In some respects this book may seem premature. Papuan languages are probably the most poorly known in the world; of over 700 languages in more than sixty language families, no more than fifty languages or less than ten per cent are in any sense adequately documented. For some languages little more than a name is available, and for many others only a brief word-list. Indeed, entire language families are often represented by no more than a brief word-list.