<p style="margin-bottom: 4em"></p> <h1 style="text-align: center;">Acknowledgements</h1> <p style="margin-bottom: 4em"></p> This work would not have been possible without the guidance and support of numerous individuals and institutions. I am grateful to the faculty of the Department of Comparative Linguistics for their instruction, encouragement, and patience throughout the course of this research. In particular, I wish to thank my advisors and colleagues, whose comments and criticism greatly improved both the scope and accuracy of this work. I am also indebted to the archivists, librarians, and historians who assisted me in locating and interpreting surviving Canidic materials. Much of the historical record is fragmentary, damaged, or contradictory, and their expertise proved invaluable in navigating these challenges. The preparation of this volume benefited from access to several collections of pre-Purge manuscripts and secondary sources. While many questions regarding the historical development of Canidic remain unresolved, these materials provided an essential foundation for the analyses presented herein. Finally, I owe a profound dept of gratitude to a field consultant whose knowledge, patience, and willingness to share difficult memories made this work possible. They generously shared both knowledge and time despite having every reason to refuse. Their patience with my questions, willingness to challenge my assumptions, and commitment to preserving what remains of a nearly forgotten linguistic tradition shaped every chapter of this work. For reasons that will be apparent to those familiar with the subject matter, I have chosen not to identify this individual. I can only hope that this volume proves worth of the trust they placed in me. Any errors, misinterpretations, or omissions remain entirely my own. <p style="margin-bottom: 4em"></p>