This means that it is difficult to know which features in Afroasiatic languages are retentions, and which are innovations.
ðɪs mˈiːnz ðˌɐɾɪt ɪz dˈɪfɪkəlt tə nˈoʊ wˌɪtʃ fˈiːtʃɚz ɪn ˌæfɹoʊˌeɪsɪˈæɾɪk lˈæŋɡwɪdʒᵻz ɑːɹ ɹᵻtˈɛnʃənz, ænd wˌɪtʃ ɑːɹ ˌɪnəvˈeɪʃənz.