The reconstruction of the ancestral stage of Nuristani languages is still
in statu nascendi, and this paper discusses three aspects of its state and progress.
First, it surveys three idioms of uncertain or debated affiliation (Dameli, Tregami,
Zemiaki) and suggests not to utilize their data in the first approach to reconstructing
Proto-Nuristani, with the rider that reconstructed elements can be readjusted later.
The second, main part of the paper discusses the results of reconstruction attempts
available so far in publications ranging from shorter notes to systematic analyses
of
Nuristani etyma. The third section considers the implications of linguistic reconstruction
and cladistics for the prehistory of Nuristani languages, focusing on some
idiosyncratic features of Prasun.
