Why is the Torricelli family considered highly different from nearby Papuan language families?

The Torricelli family is considered highly divergent from other Papuan language families, such as the Trans-New Guinea group and those of the Sepik-Ramu basin, due to several distinct linguistic characteristics.1

Unlike the majority of Papuan languages, which typically utilize a subject-object-verb (SOV) word order and postpositions, the Torricelli family employs a subject-verb-object (SVO) word order and uses prepositions. While other language families in the region may exhibit similar word order patterns due to external influences, such as the Bird’s Head families, this explanation is considered highly unlikely for the Torricelli family.2

Additionally, the Torricelli family shares a unique grammatical feature with the Lower Sepik-Ramu family: a system of noun gender where the gender of most nouns is determined by their phonological properties rather than semantic categories. These structural differences highlight the distinct nature of the Torricelli family within the complex linguistic landscape of the region.21