All Papuan Tip languages, except Nimoa, Sudest, and the Kilivila languages (all spoken on islands off the coast of mainland Papua New Guinea), have subject–object–verb (SOV) word order due to influences from nearby Papuan languages (Lynch, Ross, & Crowley 2002:104). Universally, this is considered to be a typologically unusual change. Since these non-Austronesian influences can be reconstructed for Proto-Papuan Tip, they did not simply result from recent contact among individual daughter languages.^[1]

According to Lynch, Ross, & Crowley (2002), the structure of the family is as follows:^[2]

• Nuclear Papuan Tip linkage
  • Suauic linkage: Buhutu, 'Auhelawa, Oya'oya, Unubahe, Saliba, Suau, Bwanabwana, Wagawaga
  • North Mainland – D'Entrecasteaux linkage
    • Anuki
    • Gumawana
    • Bwaidoga: Bwaidoka, Diodio (West Goodenough), Iamalele, Iduna, Koluwawa, Maiadomu
    • Dobu–Duau: Dobu, Molima, Bunama, Boselewa, Duau, Galeya, Mwatebu, Sewa Bay
    • Kakabai: Dawawa, Kakabai
    • Are–Taupota^{[citation needed]}
      • Are: Are, Arifama-Miniafia, Doga, Gapapaiwa, Ghayavi, Kaninuwa, Ubir
      • Taupota: Gweda, Haigwai, Maiwala, Minaveha, Taupota, Tawala, Wa'ema, Wedau, Yakaikeke
• Kilivila–Misima linkage
  • Kilivila family: Budibud, Kilivila, Muyuw
  • Misima language
• Nimoa–Sudest family: Nimoa, Sudest
• Central Papuan Tip family
  • Oumic: Magoric (Magori, Yoba, Bina), Ouma
  • Sinagoro–Keapara: Hula–Keapara, Sinaugoro
  • West Central Papuan Tip^{[citation needed]}
    • Motu
    • Abadi
    • Nuclear West Central Papuan Tip: Toura, Kuni, Mekeo, Lala, Waima

Maisin is difficult to classify, but its Austronesian component likely belongs with Nuclear Papuan Tip. Yele has recently been tentatively classified as closest to Nimoa–Sudest, while others classify it as a Papuan language.