title_body: Good Real World Languages to Base Proto-Lang Vocabulary I'm working on a conlang that requires a LOT of work, particularly in the sound changes from proto-lang to the current version. 
  
  Instead of creating a whole set of words from nothing, I am considering using lexicon from an existing language and just putting it through sound changes to break it up and save time. 
  
  Factors to consider:
  
  -Meaning simplicity- few to no double-meanings or idioms.
  
  -Rare- Relatively few speakers, perhaps under 5 million to greatly decrease the chances of someone picking up on it (that may be too high or low, I'm not sure myself)
  
  -Phonology- Complex enough to do some interesting sound changes but simple enough to easily transcribe (15 to 25 maybe?)
  
  -Phonotactics- CVC ? This should be easy to copy but also to evolve.
  
  -Availability- Online dictionaries readily available. 
  
  Note: I do not want to use a random word generator, as I am terrible at asigning meanings to words just from looking at them.
upvoted_answer: One suggestion I'd give: use Proto-Indo-European lexicon for the words you want in your own proto-language, then use a word generator to create the actual roots of your language. That way you're not going to run into the problem of a having a word list that accidentally includes terms your proto-speakers would be unlikely to have.