The goal of this paper is to draw attention to the loss of linguistic features found in regional varieties, a major cause of which is standardization. Data from some Malagasy languages-representing just a small portion of their linguistic features-reveal diversity at both micro-and macro-levels. I will present these data with comments on their relevance to the reconstruction of linguistic features in their earlier stages, showing that their loss due to standardization would not only detract

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... the richness of the languages, the main aspect associated with language loss, but also deprive us of information vital to reconstructing the languages' earlier stages.