List of language families
The following is a list of language families. It also includes language isolates, unclassified languages and other types.
Principal language families of the world (and in some cases geographic groups of families). For greater detail, see Distribution of languages in the world.
Major language families
By number of languages
Ethnologue 24 (2021) lists the following families that contain at least 1% of the 7,139 known languages in the world:
- Niger–Congo (1,542 languages) (21.7%)
- Austronesian (1,257 languages) (17.7%)
- Trans–New Guinea (482 languages) (6.8%)
- Sino-Tibetan (455 languages) (6.4%)
- Indo-European (448 languages) (6.3%)
- Australian [dubious] (381 languages) (5.4%)
- Afro-Asiatic (377 languages) (5.3%)
- Nilo-Saharan [dubious] (206 languages) (2.9%)
- Oto-Manguean (178 languages) (2.5%)
- Austroasiatic (167 languages) (2.3%)
- Tai–Kadai (91 languages) (1.3%)
- Dravidian (86 languages) (1.2%)
- Tupian (76 languages) (1.1%)
Glottolog 4.6 (2022) lists the following as the largest families, of 8,565 languages:
- Atlantic–Congo (1,406 languages)
- Austronesian (1,271 languages)
- Indo-European (583 languages)
- Sino-Tibetan (501 languages)
- Afro-Asiatic (379 languages)
- Nuclear Trans–New Guinea (317 languages)
- Pama–Nyungan (250 languages)
- Oto-Manguean (181 languages)
- Austroasiatic (158 languages)
- Tai–Kadai (95 languages)
- Dravidian (82 languages)
- Arawakan (77 languages)
- Mande (75 languages)
- Tupian (71 languages)
Language counts can vary significantly depending on what is considered a dialect; for example Lyle Campbell counts only 27 Otomanguean languages, although he, Ethnologue and Glottolog also disagree as to which languages belong in the family.
Language families by region
Campbell identifies a total of 406 independent language families, including language isolates.[1] Extinct languages are marked by daggers (†).
Africa
Africa (42)
- Afro-Asiatic
- Bangi Me (isolate)
- Berta
- Central Sudanic
- Daju
- Dizoid
- Dogon
- Eastern Jebel
- Furan
- Gimojan (Gonga–Gimojan)
- Hadza (isolate)
- Heiban
- Ijoid
- Jalaa† (isolate)
- Kadu (Kadugli–Krongo)
- Khoe
- Kresh–Aja
- Kxʼa (Ju–ǂHoan)
- Koman
- Kuliak
- Kunama
- Laal (isolate)
- Maban
- Mande
- Mao
- Nara (isolate?)
- Narrow Talodi
- Niger–Congo
- Nilotic
- Nubian (+ Meroitic)
- Nyimang
- Rashad
- Saharan
- Sandawe (isolate?)
- Songhay
- South Omotic (Aroid?)
- Surmic
- Ta-Ne-Omotic
- Tama (Taman)
- Tegem (Lafofa) (isolate?, unclassified?, family?, Niger–Congo?)
- Temein
- Tuu
Americas
The Americas have a total of 175 language families, including language isolates, according to Campbell (2019).
North America (54)
- Adai† (isolate [unclassified?])
- Algic
- Alsea† (isolate)
- Atakapa† (isolate, small family?)
- Beothuk† (isolate)
- Caddoan
- Cayuse† (isolate)
- Chimakuan†
- Chimariko† (isolate)
- Chinookan†
- Chitimacha† (isolate)
- Chumashan†
- Coahuilteco† (isolate)
- Cochimí–Yuman
- Comecrudan†
- Coosan†
- Cotoname† (isolate)
- Eskimo–Aleut
- Esselen† (isolate)
- Haida (isolate, small family?)
- Iroquoian
- Kalapuyan†
- Karankawa† (isolate)
- Karuk (Karok) (isolate)
- Keresan
- Kiowa–Tanoan
- Kootenai (Kutenai) (isolate)
- Maiduan
- Muskogean
- Na–Dene (strict sense, Athapaskan–Eyak—Tlingit)
- Natchez† (isolate)
- Palaihnihan
- Plateau (Plateau Penutian)
- Pomoan
- Salinan†
- Salishan
- Shastan†
- Siouan–Catawban
- Siuslaw† (isolate)
- Takelma† (isolate)
- Timucuan†
- Tonkawa† (isolate)
- Tsimshianic
- Tunica† (isolate)
- Utian (Miwok–Costanoan)
- Uto–Aztecan
- Wakashan
- Washo (isolate)
- Wintuan
- Yana† (isolate)
- Yokutsan
- Yuchi (isolate)
- Yukian†
- Zuni (isolate)
- Cuitlatec† (isolate)
- Guaicurian†
- Huave (isolate)
- Jicaquean (Tol)
- Lencan†
- Mayan
- Misumalpan
- Mixe–Zoquean
- Otomanguean
- Seri (isolate)
- Tarascan (Purépecha) (isolate)
- Tequistlatecan
- Totonacan
- Xinkan†
South America (107)
- Aikanã (isolate)
- Andaquí† (isolate)
- Andoque (isolate)
- Arara do Rio Branco† (Arara do Beiradão, Mato Grosso Arara) (isolate)
- Arawakan
- Arawan
- Atacameño (Cunza, Kunza)† (isolate)
- Awaké (Arutani)† (isolate)
- Aymaran
- Barbacoan
- Betoi–Jirara† (isolate)
- Boran
- Bororoan
- Cahuapanan
- Camsá (isolate)
- Cañar–Puruhá (Ecuador) (uncertain family of 2 languages)
- Candoshi (Canndoshi–Sharpa) (isolate)
- Canichana† (isolate)
- Cariban
- Cayuvava† (Cayubaba) (isolate)
- Chapacuran
- Charruan†
- Chibchan
- Chipaya–Uru
- Chiquitano (isolate)
- Chocoan
- Cholonan†
- Chonan
- Chono† (isolate)
- Cofán (A'ingaé) (isolate)
- Culli (Culle)† (isolate)
- Esmeralda (Atacame)† (isolate)
- Fulnio (Yaté) (isolate)
- Guachí† (isolate)
- Guaicuruan
- Guajiboan
- Guamo† (isolate)
- Guató† (isolate)
- Harákmbut–Katukinan
- Huarpean†
- Irantxe (Münkü) (isolate)
- Itonama (isolate)
- Jabutían
- Jêan (Jê family)
- Jeikó† (isolate) [Macro–Jêan?]
- Jirajaran†
- Jivaroan
- Jotí (Yuwana) (isolate)
- Kakua–Nukak
- Kamakanan†
- Kapixaná (Kanoé) (isolate)
- Karajá
- Karirían†
- Kaweskaran
- Krenákan (Botocudan)
- Kwaza (Koayá) (isolate)
- Leco† (isolate)
- Lule–Vilelan†
- Máko† (Maku) (isolate)
- Mapudungun
- Mascoyan (Enlhet–Enenlhet)
- Matacoan
- Matanawí† (isolate)
- Maxakalían
- Mochica (Yunga)† (isolate)
- Mosetén–Chimané (isolate)
- Movima (isolate)
- Munichi† (isolate)
- Muran (Pirahã) (isolate, small family?)
- Nadehup ("Makúan")
- Nambiquaran
- Ofayé (Opayé) (isolate)
- Omurano† (isolate)
- Otomacoan†
- Paez (isolate?)
- Pano–Takanan
- Payaguᆠ(isolate)
- Puinave (isolate)
- Puquina† (isolate)
- Purí–Coroado† (isolate)
- Quechuan
- Rikbaktsá (Canoeiro) (isolate)
- Sáliban
- Sapé (Kaliana)† (isolate)
- Sechura–Catacaoan†
- Taruma† (Ta ruamá) (isolate)
- Taushiro (isolate)
- Tequiraca† (isolate)
- Tikuna–Yurí
- Timotean†
- Tiniguan†
- Trumai (isolate)
- Tukanoan
- Tupían
- Urarina (isolate)
- Waorani (isolate)
- Warao (isolate)
- Witotoan
- Xukurúan†
- Yagan (Yámana)† (isolate)
- Yaguan
- Yanomaman
- Yaruro (Pumé) (isolate)
- Yuracaré (isolate)
- Yurumangui† (isolate)
- Zamucoan
- Zaparoan
Nikulin (2020) considers the Macro-Jê family to consist of Bororoan, Chiquitano, Jabutían, Jêan, Jeikó, Kamakanan, Karajá, Krenákan, Maxakalían, Ofayé, Purí–Coroado, and Rikbaktsá. If Nikulin's Macro-Jê is accepted as valid, this would bring the total number of independent language families and isolates in South America down to 96.[2]
Eurasia
Eurasia (34)
- Ainu (isolate)
- Austroasiatic
- Austronesian
- Basque (isolate)
- Burushaski (isolate)
- Chukotko-Kamchatkan
- Dravidian
- Elamite† (isolate)
- Great Andamanese
- Hattic† (isolate)
- Hruso (Hruso–Aka)
- Hurrian–(Hurro-Urartian)†
- Indo-European
- Japonic
- Kartvelian
- Kassite† (isolate)
- Koreanic
- Kusunda (isolate)
- Miao–Yao (Hmong–Mien)
- Mongolian
- Nakh–Dagestanian (Northeast Caucasian)
- Nihali (isolate)
- Nivkh (isolate, possibly a small family)
- Northwest Caucasian
- Onge–Jarawa
- Sino–Tibetan
- Sumerian† (isolate)
- Tai–Kadai
- Tungusic
- Turkic
- Tyrsenian (Etruscan–Lemnian)†
- Uralic
- Yeniseian
- Yukaghir
Papuan
All of the following language families and isolates are frequently geographically classified as Papuan languages. This brings the total number of Papuan families and isolates to 125 according to Campbell (2019). Palmer et al. (2018), however, recognizes 80 Papuan language families and isolates.[3]
Papuan (125)
- Abinomn (isolate)
- Abun (isolate)
- Afra (Usku) (isolate)
- Amto–Musan
- Anêm (isolate)
- Angan
- Anim
- Ap Ma (Botin, Kambot, Kambrambo) (isolate)
- Arafundi
- Asaba (isolate)
- Awin–Pa
- Baibai–Fas
- Baining
- Baiyamo (isolate)
- Banaro (isolate)
- Bayono–Awbono
- Bilua (isolate)
- Bogaya (isolate)
- Border
- Bosavi
- Bulaka River
- Burmeso (isolate)
- Busa (Odiai) (isolate)
- Dagan
- Damal (Uhunduni, Amung) (isolate)
- Dem (isolate)
- Dibiyaso (isolate)
- Doso–Turumsa
- Duna (isolate)
- East Bird's Head
- East Kutubu
- East Strickland
- Eastern Trans-Fly
- Eleman
- Elseng (Morwap) (isolate)
- Fasu (isolate)
- Geelvink Bay
- Goilalan
- Guriaso (isolate)
- Hatam–Mansim
- Inanwatan
- Kaki Ae (isolate)
- Kamula (isolate)
- Kapauri (isolate) (Kapori)
- Karami
- Kaure–Narau (possibly an isolate)
- Kayagar
- Kehu (isolate)
- Kibiri-Porome (isolate)
- Kimki (isolate)
- Kiwaian
- Koiarian
- Kol (isolate)
- Kolopom
- Konda–Yahadian
- Kosare (isolate)
- Kuot (isolate)
- Kwalean
- Kwerbic
- Kwomtari
- Lakes Plain
- Lavukaleve (isolate)
- Left May (Arai)
- Lepki–Murkim
- Lower Sepik–Ramu
- Mailuan
- Mairasi
- Manubaran
- Marori (Moraori)
- Masep (isolate)
- Mawes (isolate)
- Maybrat (isolate)
- Mombum (family, 2 languages)
- Monumbo (family, 2 languages)
- Mor (isolate)
- Morehead–Wasur
- Mpur (isolate)
- Namla–Tofanma
- Nimboran
- North Bougainville
- North Halmahera
- Ndu
- Pahoturi
- Pauwasi
- Pawaia
- Pele-Ata
- Piawi
- Powle-Ma ("Molof") (isolate)
- Purari ("Namau") (isolate)
- Pyu (isolate)
- Sause (isolate)
- Savosavo (isolate)
- Senagi
- Sentani
- Sepik
- Sko (Skou)
- Somahai
- South Bird's Head
- South Bougainville
- Suki–Gogodala
- Sulka (isolate)
- Tabo (Waia) (isolate)
- Taiap (isolate)
- Tambora† (isolate)
- Tanahmerah (isolate)
- Taulil–Butam
- Teberan
- Timor–Alor–Pantar
- Tor–Orya
- Torricelli
- Touo (isolate)
- Trans New Guinea
- Turama–Kikori
- Ulmapo ("Mongol–Langam")
- Walio
- West Bird's Head
- West Bomberai
- Wiru (isolate)
- Yale (Yalë, Nagatman) (isolate)
- Yareban
- Yawa
- Yele (Yélî Dnye) (isolate)
- Yerakai (isolate)
- Yetfa-Biksi (isolate)
- Yuat
Australia
Campbell (2019) recognizes 30 independent Australian language families and isolates.
Australia (30)
- Bachamal† (isolate, possibly Northern Daly family)
- Bunaban
- Eastern Daly†
- Gaagudju† (isolate)
- Garrwan
- Giimbiyu†
- Gunwinyguan
- Iwaidjan
- Jarrakan
- Kungarakany† (isolate)
- Limilngan†
- Mangarrayi† (isolate)
- Maningrida
- Maran
- Marrku–Wurrugu
- Mirndi (Mindi)
- Northeastern Tasmanian†
- Northern Daly
- Nyulnyulan
- Oyster Bay†
- Pama–Nyungan
- Southeastern Tasmanian†
- Southern Daly
- Tangkic
- Tiwi (isolate)
- Umbugarla/Ngurmbur† (isolate or small family?)
- Wagiman (Wageman)† (isolate)
- Wardaman† (isolate or small family)
- Western Daly
- Worrorran
According to Claire Bowern's Australian Languages (2011), Australian languages divide into approximately 30 primary sub-groups and 5 isolates.[4] Meanwhile, Glottolog 4.1 (2019) recognizes 23 independent families and 9 isolates in Australia, comprising a total of 32 independent language groups.[5]
Language families (non-sign)
In the following, each bullet item is a known or suspected language family. Phyla with historically wide geographical distributions but comparatively few current-day speakers include Eskimo–Aleut, Na-Dené, Algic, Quechuan and Nilo-Saharan.
The geographic headings over them are meant solely as a tool for grouping families into collections, more comprehensible than an unstructured list of a few hundred independent families. Geographic relationship is convenient for that purpose, but these headings are not a suggestion of any "super-families" phylogenetically relating the families named.
The number of individual languages in a family and the number of their speakers are only rough estimates: see dialect or language and linguistic demography for further explanation.
The language families of Africa
Map of the Austronesian languages
Map of major Dravidian languages
Distribution of the Indo-European language family branches across Eurasia
Area of the Papuan languages
Map of the Australian languages
Distribution of language families and isolates north of Mexico at first contact
The major South American language families
Language isolates
Language isolates are languages which are not part of any known family, and they can be alternatively described as being their own families' sole representants.
Africa
- Bangime (Mali) (ethnically Dogon)
- Siamou (Burkina Faso)
- Jalaa (Nigeria) [extinct]
- Mimi of Gaudefroy (Chad) [extinct]
- Kujargé (Chad, Sudan)
- Laal (Chad)
- Lafofa (Sudan)
- Meroitic (Egypt, Sudan) [extinct] (Glottolog classifies it as an isolate)
- Nara (Eritrea)
- Gule (Sudan) [extinct]
- Berta (Sudan, Ethiopia)
- Kunama (Eritrea, Ethiopia)
- Shabo (Ethiopia)
- Ongota (Ethiopia)
- Hadza (Tanzania)
- Sandawe (Tanzania) (may be related to Khoe)
Eurasia
- Basque (Spain, France) (widely considered a descendant of or related to extinct Aquitanian)
- Iberian (Spain) [extinct] (Glottolog classifies it as an isolate)
- Etruscan (Italy) [extinct] (probably Tyrsenian)
- Hattic (Turkey) [extinct] (sometimes linked to Northwest Caucasian)
- Sumerian (Iraq) [extinct]
- Elamite (Iran) [extinct] (sometimes linked to Dravidian)
- Burushaski (Pakistan, India) (sometimes linked to Yeniseian)
- Nihali (India) (sometimes linked to Kusunda or Munda)
- Kusunda (Nepal)
- Hruso (India)
- Shompen (India)
- Kenaboi (Malaysia) [extinct] (perhaps Austroasiatic) (Glottolog classifies it as an isolate)
- Korean (North Korea, South Korea, China: Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture) (sometimes linked to Paleosiberian, alternatively Jeju is sometimes classified as a separate language, creating a Koreanic family)
- Nivkh or Gilyak (Russia) (sometimes linked to Chukotko–Kamchatkan)
- Ainu language or languages (Japan, Russia) (like Arabic or Japanese, the diversity within Ainu is large enough that some consider it to be perhaps up to a dozen languages, while others consider it a single language with high dialectal diversity)
Oceania
- Abinomn (New Guinea)
- Abun (New Guinea)
- Anêm (New Guinea)
- Asabano (New Guinea)
- Bilua (New Guinea)
- Bogaya (New Guinea)
- Burmeso (New Guinea)
- Damal (New Guinea)
- Dem (New Guinea)
- Dibiyaso (New Guinea)
- Duna (New Guinea)
- Elseng (New Guinea)
- Fasu (New Guinea)
- Guriaso (New Guinea)
- Kaki Ae (New Guinea)
- Kapori (New Guinea)
- Karami (New Guinea) [extinct] (Glottolog classifies it as an isolate)
- Kehu (New Guinea)
- Kibiri (New Guinea)
- Kimki (New Guinea)
- Kol (New Guinea)
- Kuot (Panaras) (New Guinea)
- Lavukaleve (New Guinea)
- Marori (New Guinea)
- Massep (New Guinea)
- Mawes (New Guinea)
- Maybrat-Karon (New Guinea)
- Molof (New Guinea)
- Mor (Bomberai Peninsula) (New Guinea)
- Mpur (New Guinea)
- Odiai (New Guinea)
- Papi (New Guinea)
- Pawaia (New Guinea)
- Pele-Ata (New Guinea)
- Purari (New Guinea)
- Pyu (New Guinea) [moribund]
- Sause (New Guinea)
- Savosavo (New Guinea)
- Sulka (New Guinea)
- Tabo (New Guinea)
- Taiap (New Guinea)
- Tambora (New Guinea) [extinct] (Glottolog classifies it as an isolate)
- Tanahmerah (New Guinea)
- Touo (New Guinea)
- Usku (New Guinea) [moribund]
- Wiru (New Guinea)
- Yalë (New Guinea)
- Yele (New Guinea)
- Yerakai (New Guinea)
- Yetfa (New Guinea)
- Gaagudju (Australia) [extinct]
- Kungarakany (Australia) [extinct]
- Laragia (Australia)
- Minkin [extinct; perhaps a member of Yiwaidjan or Tankic] (Australia)
- Oyster Bay-Big River-Little Swanport (Australia)
- Tiwi (Melville and Bathurst Islands) (Australia)
- Umbugarla (Australia) [extinct]
- Wadjiginy (Australia)
- Wageman (Australia)
North America
- Adai (US: Louisiana) [extinct]
- Alsea-Yaquina (US: Oregon) [extinct]
- Atakapa (US: Louisiana, Texas) [extinct] (part of the hypothetical Gulf languages)
- Beothuk (Canada: Newfoundland) [extinct]
- Cayuse (US: Oregon) [extinct]
- Chimariko (US: California) [extinct] (part of the hypothetical Hokan languages)
- Chitimacha (US: Louisiana) [extinct] (possibly part of the hypothetical Gulf languages)
- Coahuilteco (US: Texas; Mexico: Coahuila ) [extinct]
- Comecrudan (Mexico: Rio Grande) [extinct]
- Cotoname (US: Texas; Mexico: Tamaulipas) [extinct]
- Cuitlatec (Mexico: Guerrero) [extinct]
- Esselen (US: California) [extinct]
- Guaicurian (Mexico: Baja California) [extinct]
- Karankawa (US: Texas) [extinct]
- Karok (US: California)
- Klamath-Modoc (US: Oregon, California) [extinct]
- Kutenai (Canada: British Columbia; US: Idaho, Montana)
- Maratino (Mexico: Tamaulipas) [extinct]
- Molale (US: Oregon, Washington) [extinct]
- Natchez (US: Mississippi, Louisiana) (linked to Muskogean in the hypothetical Gulf languages)
- Salinan (US: California) [extinct] (part of the hypothetical Hokan languages)
- Seri (Mexico: Sonora) (part of the hypothetical Hokan languages)
- Siuslaw (US: Oregon) [extinct]
- Takelma (US: Oregon) [extinct] (part of the hypothetical Penutian languages)
- Timucua (US: Florida, Georgia) [extinct]
- Tonkawa (US: Texas) [extinct]
- Tunica (US: Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas) (part of the hypothetical Gulf languages)
- Washo (US: California, Nevada) (part of the hypothetical Hokan languages)
- Yana (US: California) [extinct] (part of the hypothetical Hokan languages)
- Yuchi (US: Georgia, Oklahoma)
- Zuni (also known as Shiwi) (US: New Mexico)
South America
- Aewa (Peru) [extinct]
- Aikanã (Brazil: Rondônia)
- Andaqui (Colombia) [extinct]
- Andoque (Colombia, Peru)
- Arutani (Brazil, Venezuela)
- Atacame (Ecuador) [extinct]
- Betoi-Jirara (Colombia) [extinct]
- Camsá (Colombia)
- Candoshi-Shapra (Peru)
- Canichana (Bolivia) [extinct]
- Cayuvava (Bolivia)
- Chono (Chile) [extinct]
- Cofán (Colombia, Ecuador)
- Culli (Peru) [extinct]
- Fulniô (Brazil: Pernambuco)
- Guachi (Argentina) [extinct]
- Guamo (Venezuela) [extinct]
- Guató (Brazil, Bolivia)
- Hoti (Venezuela)
- Irantxe (Brazil: Mato Grosso)
- Itonama (Bolivia)
- Jirajaran (Venezuela) [extinct]
- Kanoê (Brazil)
- Kariri (Brazil)
- Kunza (Chile, Argentina) [in the process of revitalization]
- Kwaza (Brazil: Rondônia) [unclassified]
- Leco (Bolivia)
- Lule (Argentina) [extinct]
- Máku (Brazil) [extinct]
- Matanawi (Brazil) [extinct]
- Mato Grosso Arára (Brazil) [extinct]
- Mochica (Peru)
- Mosetén-Chimané (Bolivia)
- Movima (Bolivia)
- Muniche (Peru) [extinct]
- Mure (Bolivia) [extinct]
- Omurano (Peru)
- Oti (Brazil: São Paulo) [extinct]
- Páez (Colombia) (see also Paezan)
- Pankararú (Brazil) [extinct]
- Payagua (Argentina, Paraguay) [extinct]
- Pirahã (Brazil)
- Puelche (Argentina, Chile)
- Puinave (Colombia, Venezuela)
- Pumé (Venezuela)
- Puquina (Peru, Bolivia) [extinct]
- Ramanos (Bolivia) [extinct]
- Sapé (Venezuela) [extinct]
- Sechura (Peru) [extinct]
- Tallán (Peru) [extinct]
- Taruma (Guyana, Brazil)
- Taushiro (Peru)
- Timote-Cuica (Venezuela)
- Tinigua (Colombia)
- Trumai (Brazil)
- Tuxá (Brazil) [extinct]
- Urarina (Peru)
- Vilela (Argentina)
- Waorani (also known as Sabela, Waodani) (Ecuador, Peru)
- Warao (Guyana, Surinam, Venezuela)
- Xukuru (Brazil) [extinct]
- Yaghan (Chile) [extinct][8]
- Yuracaré (Bolivia)
- Yurumanguí (Colombia) [extinct]
Unclassified languages
Languages are considered unclassified either because, for one reason or another, little effort has been made to compare them with other languages, or more commonly because they are too poorly documented to permit reliable classification: most such languages are extinct and, most likely, will never be known well enough to classify.
Africa
- Dama (Sierra Leone) [extinct]
- Mangree [extinct]
- Okwa [extinct]
- Mpur (Ghana) [extinct]
- Wawu [extinct]
- Numidian [extinct]
- Komta [extinct]
- Rimba
- Gail
- Dima-Bottego [extinct]
- Mangio
- Degere [extinct]
- Taita Cushitic [extinct]
- Oropom (extinct; possibly spurious)
- Hamba [extinct]
- Omaio (Tanzania)
- Serengeti-Dorobo (Tanzania) [extinct]
- Vazimba (possible substrate language), see Beosi (Madagascar) [extinct]
Eurasia
- Tartessian (Europa: Spain, Portugal) (extinct)
- Quinqui (Europa: Spain)
- Pictish (Europa: Scotland) (extinct)
- Traveller Scottish (Europa: Scotland)
- Polari (Europa: United Kingdom, Ireland) (extinct)
- Ancient Ligurian (Europa: Italy) (extinct)
- Paleo-Corsican (Europa: Corsica) (extinct)
- Paleo-Sardinian (Europa: Sardinia) (extinct)
- Camunic (Europa: Italy) (extinct, perhaps Tyrsenian)
- Raetic (Europa: Italy) (extinct, probably Tyrsenian)
- North Picene (Europa: Italy) (extinct)
- Elymian (Europa: Sicily) (extinct, possibly Indo-European)
- Sicanian (Europa: Sicily) (extinct)
- Sicel (Europa: Sicily) (extinct, probably Indo-European)
- Liburnian (Europa: Balkans) (extinct, perhaps Indo-European)
- Illyrian (Europa: Balkans) (extinct)
- Paeonian (Europa: Balkans) (extinct, perhaps Indo-European)
- Kainuu Sami (Europa: Finland) (Glottolog classifies it as unclassifiable)
- Cimmerian (Europa, Asia) (extinct) (probably Indo-European)
- Hunnic (Europa, Asia) (extinct)
- Pelasgian (Europa: Greece) (extinct)
- Eteocretan (Europa: Crete) (extinct, probably descended from Minoan)
- Minoan (Europa: Crete) (extinct)
- Lemnian (Europa: Greece) (extinct, probably Tyrsenian)
- Trojan (Europa, Asia: Turkey) (extinct)
- Mysian (Europa, Asia) (extinct)
- Isaurian (Europa, Asia) (extinct) (perhaps Indo-European and related to Luwian)
- Ancient Cappadocian (Europa, Asia) (extinct)
- Kaskian (Europa, Asia) (extinct) (perhaps related to Hattic)
- Eteocypriot (Europa: Cyprus) (extinct)
- Philistine (Asia) (extinct) (might be Indo-European)
- Undeciphered -k language of ancient Yemen (Asia) (extinct) (probably Semitic, and identified with Himyaritic)
- Gutian (Asia) (extinct)
- Kassite (Asia) (extinct) (perhaps related to or part of Hurro-Urartian)
- Proto-Euphratean (Asia) (extinct)
- Bactro-Margianan (Asia) (extinct)
- Bazigar (Asia)
- Xianbei (Asia) (extinct)
- Ruanruan (Asia) (extinct)
- Xiongnu (Asia) (extinct, with Glottolog code, unclassifiable)
- Ná-Meo (Asia)
- Koguryo (Asia) (extinct)
- Baekje (Asia) (extinct)
- Silla (Asia) (extinct)
Oceania
North America
- Monqui (Mexico: Baja California Sur) (extinct)
- Pericú (Mexico: Baja California Sur) (extinct)
- Amotomanco (Mexico) (extinct)
- Concho (Mexico) (extinct)
- Guachichil (Mexico) (extinct)
- Tanpachoa (Mexico) (extinct)
- Alagüilac (Guatemala) (extinct)
- Naolan (Mexico: Tamaulipas) (extinct)
- Quinigua (Mexico: Nuevo León) (extinct)
- Solano (Mexico: Coahuila; US: Texas) (extinct)
- Akokisa (US: Texas) (extinct)
- Aranama (US: Texas) (extinct)
- Bidai (US: Texas) (extinct)
- Eyeish (US: Texas) (extinct)
- Payaya (US: Texas) (extinct)
- Appalousa (US: Louisiana) (extinct)
- Avoyel (US: Louisiana) (extinct)
- Quinipissa (US: Louisiana) (extinct)
- Pascagoula (US: Mississippi) (extinct)
- Neutral-Atiouandaronk (Canada: Ontario) (extinct)
- Wenro (US, Canada) (extinct)
- Erie (Canada: Ontario; US: Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York) (extinct)
- Pamunkey (US: Virginia) (extinct)
- Meherrin (US: Virginia, North Carolina) (extinct)
- Coree (US: North Carolina) (extinct)
- Congaree (US: South Carolina) (extinct) (perhaps Arawakan)
- Cusabo (US: South Carolina) (extinct) (possibly Arawakan)
- Pedee (US: South Carolina) (extinct)
- Guale (US: Georgia) (extinct)
- Calusa (US: Florida) (extinct)
- Tequesta (US: Florida) (extinct)
- Quepos (Costa Rica) (extinct)
- Guanahatabey (extinct, Greater Antilles)
- Macorix (extinct, Greater Antilles)
- Ciguayo (extinct, Greater Antilles)
- Cueva (Panama) (extinct)
- Haitian Vodoun Culture (Haiti) (Liturgical)
South America
- Carabayo (Colombia)
- Colima (Colombia) (extinct)
- Envuelto (Colombia) (extinct)
- Guanaca (Colombia) (extinct)
- Hoxa (Colombia) (extinct)
- Idabaez (Colombia) (extinct)
- Malibu (Colombia) (extinct)
- Mocana (Colombia) (extinct)
- Muellamues (Colombia) (extinct)
- Muzo (Colombia) (extinct)
- Panche (Colombia) (extinct)
- Pijao (Colombia) (extinct)
- Quillacinga (Colombia) (extinct)
- Quimbaya (Colombia) (extinct)
- Sinúfana (Colombia) (extinct, perhaps Chocoan)
- Yanacona (Colombia) (extinct)
- Arakajú (Brazil) (extinct)
- Baenan (Brazil) (extinct)
- Bagua (Brazil) (extinct)
- Cabixi-Natterer (Brazil) (extinct)
- Catuquinaru-Bach (Brazil) (extinct)
- Gamela (Brazil) (extinct)
- Huamoé (Brazil) (extinct)
- Jenipapo-Kanindé (Brazil) (extinct)
- Kaimbé (Brazil) (extinct)
- Kambiwá (Brazil) (extinct)
- Kantarure (Brazil) (extinct)
- Kapinawá (Brazil) (extinct?)
- Karirí-Xocó (Brazil) (extinct)
- Natú (Brazil) (extinct)
- Panzaleo (Brazil) (extinct)
- Pitaguary (Brazil) (extinct)
- Tapajó (Brazil) (extinct)
- Tarairiú (Brazil) (extinct)
- Tembey (Brazil) (extinct)
- Unainuman (Brazil) (extinct)
- Urucucús (Brazil) (extinct)
- Uru-Pa-In (Brazil) (extinct)
- Waitaká (Brazil) (extinct)
- Xocó (Brazil) (extinct)
- Caranqui (Ecuador) (extinct, perhaps Barbacoan)
- Imbabura (Ecuador) (extinct)
- Kara (Ecuador) (extinct)
- Malacato (Ecuador) (extinct)
- Palta (Ecuador) (extinct)
- Panzaleo (Ecuador) (extinct)
- Pasto (Ecuador) (extinct)
- Puruguay (Ecuador) (extinct)
- Puruhá (Ecuador) (extinct)
- Rabona (Ecuador) (extinct)
- Xiroa (Ecuador) (extinct)
- Bagua (Peru) (extinct)
- Chacha (Peru) (extinct)
- Chirino (Peru) (extinct)
- Copallén (Peru) (extinct)
- Patagón (Peru) (extinct)
- Quingnam (Peru) (extinct)
- Sácata (Peru) (extinct)
- Tabancale (Peru) (extinct)
- Yanacona (Peru) (extinct)
- Chholo (Bolivia) (extinct)
- Gorgotoqui (Bolivia) (extinct)
- Majena (Bolivia) (extinct)
- Pacahuaras-Castillo (Bolivia) (extinct)
- Sansimoniano (Bolivia) (extinct)
- Chango (Peru, Chile) (extinct)
- Chicha (Bolivia, Argentina) (extinct)
- Querandi (Uruguay) (extinct)
- Omaguaca (Argentina) (extinct)
- Ocloya (Argentina) (extinct)
- Tastil (Argentina) (extinct)
- Tilianes (Argentina) (extinct)
- Toara (Argentina) (extinct)
- Fiscara (Argentina) (extinct)
- Humahuaca (Argentina) (extinct)
- Guachipas (Argentina) (extinct)
- Kakán (Argentina/Chile) (in the process of revitalization)
- Tonokoté (Argentina) (extinct)
- Fayjatases (Chile) (extinct)
- Chiquillan (Chile) (extinct)
- Sanavirón (Argentina) (extinct)
- Comechingón (Argentina) (extinct)
- Querandí (Argentina) (extinct)
- Poyas (Argentina/Chile) (extinct)
- Guaicaro (Argentina/Chile) (extinct)
Unattested languages
Unattested languages may be names of purported languages for which no direct evidence exists, languages for which all evidence has been lost, or hypothetical proto-languages proposed in linguistic reconstruction.
Africa
Eurasia
- Harappan (India) (extinct, perhaps related to either Dravidian languages or Indo-Aryan languages)
- Sentinelese (India) (possibly Ongan)
Oceania
North America
South America
Extinct families and unclassified languages
This section lists extinct languages and families which have no known living relatives; while a minority of these is well known but is still classified as genetically independent (like the ancient Sumerian language), the lack of attestation makes many of these hard to put into larger groups.
| Name | Languages | Year of death | Location | Well-attested? | Proposed parent family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurro-Urartian languages | 2 | 7th century BC? | Asia | Yes | Alarodian languages |
| Tasmanian languages (several families) | 5–16 | 1905 | Australia | No | |
| Eastern Daly languages | 2 | 2006 | Australia | Some | |
| Tyrsenian languages | 3 | 3rd century | Europe | Some | |
| Baenan | 1 | 1940s | South America (Bahia) | No | |
| Culle | 1 | 20th century | South America (North Peru) | No | |
| Kakán | 1 | 18th century? | South America (Northwest Argentina-North Chile) | Some | |
| Kunza | 1 | 1950s? | South America (Atacama) | Some | |
| Gamela | 1 | ? | South America (Maranhão) | No | |
| Gorgotoqui | 1 | 17th century | South America (East Bolivia) | No | |
| Huamoé | 1 | ? | South America (Pernambuco) | No | |
| Malibu languages | 9 | ? | South America (Colombia) | No | |
| Munichi | 1 | 1990s | South America (Loreto) | Some | Arawakan |
| Natú | 1 | 19th century? | South America (Pernambuco) | ||
| Pankararú | 1 | 20th century | South America (East Brazil) | No | |
| Panzaleo | 1 | 17th century | South America (Quito) | No | |
| Sechura | 1 | 19th century? | South America (Piura) | No | |
| Tarairiú | 1 | ? | South America (East Brazil) | No | |
| Tuxá | 1 | 19th century? | South America (East Brazil) | No | |
| Xocó | 1–3 | ? | South America (East Brazil) | No | |
| Xukuru | 1 | ? | South America (East Brazil) | No | Xukuruan |
| Yurumanguí | 1 | 19th century? | South America (Colombia) | No | |
| Adai | 1 | 19th century | North America (Louisiana) | No | |
| Alagüilac | 1 | 18th century? | North America (Guatemala) | No | |
| Aranama | 1 | 19th century | North America (Texas) | No | |
| Atakapa | 1 | 20th century | North America (Louisiana) | Some | |
| Beothuk | 1 | 1829 | North America (Newfoundland) | No | |
| Calusa | 1 | 18th century? | North America (Florida) | No | |
| Cayuse | 1 | 1930s | North America (Oregon) | ||
| Chumashan | 6 | 1960s | North America (California) | ||
| Cotoname | 1 | 19th century? | North America (Texas-Mexico border) | ||
| Maratino | 1 | ? | North America (Mexico) | No | Uto-Aztecan |
| Naolan | 1 | 1950s | North America (Mexico) | No | |
| Quinigua | 1 | ? | North America (Northeast Mexico) | No | |
| Solano | 1 | 18th century | North America (Texas-Mexico border) | No | |
| Chonan | 6 | 2019 | South America (Argentina) | Moseten–Chonan | |
| Yaghan | 1 | 2022 | South America (Chile) | (Isolate) |
Other language classifications
The classification of languages into families, assumes that all of them develop from a single parent proto-language and evolve over time into different daughter language(s). While the vast majority of tongues fit this description fairly well, there are exceptions. A mixed language often refers to a particular combination of existing ones, which may stem from different families: a pidgin is a simple language used for communication between groups; this may involve simplification and/or mixing of multiple languages. When a pidgin develops into a more stable language which children learn from birth, it is usually called a "creole". Whether for ease of use or created for use in fiction, languages can also be constructed from the ground up, rather than develop from existing ones; these are known as constructed languages.
Sign languages
The family relationships of sign languages are not well established due to a lagging in linguistic research, and many are isolates (cf. Wittmann 1991).[9]
| Family Name | Location | Number of Languages |
|---|---|---|
| French Sign | Europe, the Americas, Francophone Africa, parts of Asia | Over 50 |
| British Sign | United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa | 4–10 |
| Arab Sign | Much of the Arab World | 6–10 |
| Japanese Sign | Japan, Korea, Taiwan | 3 |
| German Sign | Germany, Poland, Israel | 3 |
| Swedish Sign | Sweden, Finland, Portugal | 3 |
| Chinese Sign | China (including Hong Kong and Macau) | 2 |
Beyond these language families, there exist many isolates, including:
Proposed language families
See also
- Constructed language – Consciously devised language
- Endangered language – Language that is at risk of going extinct
- Ethnologue#Language families
- Extinct language – Language that no longer has any speakers
- Index of language articles
- Intercontinental Dictionary Series – Linguistics database
- International auxiliary language – Constructed language meant to facilitate communication
- Glottolog#Language families
- Language isolate#List of language isolates by continent
- Lists of languages
References
- Campbell, Lyle (2019-01-08). "How Many Language Families are there in the World?". Anuario del Seminario de Filología Vasca "Julio de Urquijo". UPV/EHU Press. 52 (1/2): 133. doi:10.1387/asju.20195. ISSN 2444-2992. S2CID 166394477.
- Nikulin, Andrey (2020). Proto-Macro-Jê: um estudo reconstrutivo (PDF) (Ph.D. dissertation). Brasília: Universidade de Brasília.
- Palmer, Bill (2018). "Language families of the New Guinea Area". In Palmer, Bill (ed.). The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide. The World of Linguistics. Vol. 4. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 1–20. ISBN 978-3-11-028642-7.
- Bowern, C. 2011. Oxford Bibliographies Online: Australian Languages Archived 1 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine
- Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2019). "Glottolog". 4.1. Jena: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- "What are the largest language families?". Ethnologue. May 25, 2019.
- "North Caucasian". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
- Torchinsky, Rina (18 February 2022). "Cristina Calderón, Chile's last known Yaghan speaker, dies at 93". NPR. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- Wittmann, Henri (1991). "Classification linguistique des langues signées non vocalement" (PDF). Revue québécoise de linguistique théorique et appliquée (in French). 10 (1): 215–288.
External links
- Glottolog
- Ethnologue
- MultiTree Project Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
- Comparative Swadesh list tables of various language families (from Wiktionary)
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