Proto-Malayo-Polynesian language
Proto-Malayo-Polynesian is the reconstructed ancestor of the Malayo-Polynesian languages, which is by far the largest branch of the Austronesian language family. Proto-Malayo-Polynesian is ancestral to all Austronesian languages spoken outside Taiwan, as well as the Yami language on Taiwan's Orchid Island. The first systematic reconstruction of Proto-Austronesian by Otto Dempwolff was based on evidence from languages outside of Taiwan, and was therefore actually the first reconstruction of what is now known as Proto-Malayo-Polynesian.
Phonology
Consonants
The following consonants can be reconstructed for Proto-Malayo-Polynesian :| Labial | Alveolar | Palatal | Retroflex | Palatalized velar | Velar | Uvular | Glottal | |
| Voiceless obstruent | *p | *t | *c /c͡ç/ | *k | *q | |||
| Voiced obstruent | *b | *d | *z /ɟ͡ʝ/ | *D /ɖ/ | *j /ɡʲ/ | *g | ||
| Nasal | *m | *n | *ñ /ɲ/ | *ŋ | ||||
| Fricative | *s | *h | ||||||
| Lateral | *l | |||||||
| Tap or trill | *r | *R /ʀ/ | ||||||
| Approximant | *w | *y /j/ |
The phonetic value of the reconstructed sounds *p, *b, *w, *m, *t, *d, *n, *s, *l, *r, *k, *g, *ŋ, *q, *h was as indicated by the spelling. The symbols *ñ, *y, *z, *D, *j, *R are orthographic conventions first introduced by Dyen. The assumed phonetic values are given in the table.
This consonant system is quite similar to the ancestral Proto-Austronesian system, but is characterized by three mergers:
- PAN *t/*C > PMP *t
- PAN *l/*N > PMP *l
- PAN *h/*S > PMP *h
Vowels
Alternative views
In a recent study, Roger Blench has raised doubts that there was actually a single unitary Proto-Malayo-Polynesian language. Rather, Malayo-Polynesian expansion across the Luzon Strait consisted of multi-ethnic crews rapidly settling across various locations in maritime Southeast Asia, as suggested by both archaeological and linguistic evidence. There was also a Malayo-Polynesian migration to Hainan; Blench notes that both Hlai and Austronesian peoples use the foot-braced backstrap loom as well.Lexicon
Below are selected animal and plant names in Proto-Malayo-Polynesian from the Austronesian Comparative Dictionary.Animal names
| No. | Reconstruction levels | Common name | Scientific name | Proto-Malayo-Polynesian |
| 7001 | PMP | the green turtle | Chelonia mydas | *peñu |
| 9539 | PMP | kingfisher | Halcyon spp. | *sikek |
| 6845 | PAN, PMP, PWMP | the Formosan rock monkey | Macaca cyclopis | *luCuŋ |
| 3809 | PMP | fruit bat, flying fox | Pteropus spp. | *paniki |
| 9052 | PMP | civet cat and similar small predatory mammals of the family Viverridae | Viverridae | *musaŋ |
| 7811 | PMP | giant clam | Tridacna gigas | *kima |
| 4842 | PMP | the spider conch | Lambis lambis | *Raŋa |
| 8637 | PMP | the spider conch | Lambis lambis | *Raŋak |
| 8638 | PMP | the spider conch | Lambis lambis | *RaŋaR |
| 4390 | PMP | coconut crab | Birgus latro | *qayuyu |
| 4224 | PMP | a small bee | Apis indica | *qani-Ruan |
| 4283 | PMP | a small bee | Apis indica | *qari-ñuan |
| 6861 | PAN, PMP, PWMP, PCEMP, PCMP | jungle leech | Haemadipsa spp. | *-matek |
| 6864 | PMP | jungle leech | Haemadipsa spp. | *qala-matek |
| 1726 | PMP | ringworm | Tinea imbricata | *buqeni |
| 3800 | PMP | fungus infection which produces light patches on the skin | Tinea flava or Pityriasis | *panaw₁ |