An Application of Computer Programming to the Reconstruction of a Proto-Language

l.Purpose. This paper illustrates the use of a computer program as a tool in linguistic research. The program under consideration produces a concordance on words according to phonological segments and environments. Phonological segments are defined as a predetermined aet of consonants and vowels. An environment is defined as the locus of occurrence of any of the phonological segments. The concordance facilitates the recognition of sound correspondances that lead to the reconstruction of a protolanguage.