Comparative proto-Totozoquean reconstructions are proposed in Brown et al. for simple consonants and vowels. The consonant-inventory for proto-Totozoquean is similar to that reconstructed for proto-Totonacan, and the vowels are not unlike those proposed for proto-Mixe–Zoquean. A parallel set of laryngealized but otherwise identical proto-Totozoquean vowels is reconstructed for proto-Totozoquean to account for the distribution of laryngealized vowels in the Totonac branch of the Totonacan family, though these left no known trace in proto-Mixe–Zoquean and there may be a more economical explanation. Vowel length is likewise an independentparameter reconstructed for proto-Totozoquean that does not seem to affect the correspondences, but in this case it is a feature inherited by both families. ;Vowels Proto-Totozoquean is reconstructed with seven vowel qualities, all of which occur with long, laryngealized, and long laryngealized homologues. These reduce to a three-vowel system in proto-Totonacan ; length and laryngealization is retained. Proto-Mixe–Zoque loses laryngealization and neutralizes **ɨ~ə and **ɔ~o.
pTZ
pT
pMZ
**i
*i
*i
**e
*i
*e
**ɨ
*i
*ə
**ə
*a
*ə
**a
*a
*a
**ɔ
*a
*o
**o
*u
*o
**u
*u
*u
;Consonants Of the three consonants which do not appear in either daughter, **ty and **ny are poorly attested, whereas **ky is robust. Proto-Mixe–Zoque loses the laterals and gutturals, and neutralizes the alveolar–palato-alveolar distinction. Proto-Totonocan loses glottal stop and **y.
