Study on the multi-lateral comparison method

multi-lateral comparison was first created by J. Greenberg. He used this method to compare the lexicons in different languages systematically, that is, compare word with word, pronunciation with pronunciation. If the languages are found to have a systematic correspondence, they are claimed to be genetically related. The theoretical connation of this method can be summarized in the following four points: the principles of language classification; the similarity of languages; form-meaning match; the criterion of language classification. But the opponents are very critical of this method. The focus of controversy of both sides are: if lexical surface similarity can be the evidence of genetic relationship; if the reconstruction is necessary; if the remote languages can be discerned; if the large amount of evidence is enough to prove the genetic relationship. Nevertheless, the multi-lateral comparison has its evident merits and demerits and should be treated objectively.