Although Pawaia has reflexes of
Proto-Trans–New Guinea vocabulary, Ross considers its inclusion questionable on available evidence. Usher classifies it instead with the
Teberan languages. Noting insufficient evidence, Pawley and Hammarström (2018) leave it as unclassified rather than as part of Trans-New Guinea. Pawley and Hammarström (2018) do not consider there to be sufficient evidence for Pawaia to be classified as part of
Trans-New Guinea, though they do note the following lexical resemblances between Pawaia and Proto-Trans–New Guinea. • 'breast' < • 'tree' < • 'tooth' < == Phonology ==