Social:List of language families
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This article is a list of language families. This list only includes primary language families that are accepted by the current academic consensus in the field of linguistics; for language families that are not accepted by the current academic consensus in the field of linguistics, see the article "List of proposed language families".
List of language families
Spoken language families
- Traditional geographical classification (not implying genetic relationship)
Legend:Australian languages and Tasmanian languagesCaucasian languagesNuba Mountains languagesPaleo-Siberian languagesPapuan languages
| Family | Languages[1] | Current speakers[2] | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afroasiatic | 381 | 499,294,669 | Africa, Eurasia |
| Aroid | 5 | 438,100 | Africa |
| Atlantic–Congo | 1,410 | 500,000,000 | Africa |
| Berta | 6 | 380,000 | Africa |
| Central Sudanic | 63 | 9,145,280 | Africa |
| Daju | 7 | 261,000 | Africa |
| Dizoid | 3 | 88,840 | Africa |
| Dogon | 20 | 630,820 | Africa |
| Eastern Jebel | 4 | 104,600 | Africa |
| Fur | 2 | 786,900 | Africa |
| Gumuz | 3 | 253,680 | Africa |
| Heiban | 10 | 276,690 | Africa |
| Ijaw | 9 | 3,221,650 | Africa |
| Kadu | 6 | 120,600 | Africa |
| Katla-Tima | 3 | 25,000 | Africa |
| Khoe-Kwadi | 14 | 337,337 | Africa |
| Koman | 5 | 94,000 | Africa |
| Kresh-Aja | 3 | 48,200 | Africa |
| Kru | 38 | 3,800,000 | Africa |
| Kuliak | 3 | 14,070 | Africa |
| Kunama | 2 | 181,000 | Africa |
| Kxʼa | 5 | 104,000 | Africa |
| Maban | 10 | 1,115,260 | Africa |
| Mande | 75 | 27,003,000 | Africa |
| Nilotic | 55 | 33,306,780 | Africa |
| Nubian | 13 | 842,050 | Africa |
| Nyima | 2 | 162,000 | Africa |
| Rashad | 2 | 126,000 | Africa |
| Saharan | 10 | 10,940,500 | Africa |
| Songhay | 10 | 3,228,000 | Africa |
| Surmic | 11 | 544,680 | Africa |
| Talodi | 8 | 112,250 | Africa |
| Taman | 4 | 128,800 | Africa |
| Ta-Ne-Omotic | 23 | 7,383,320 | Africa |
| Temein | 2 | 14,400 | Africa |
| Tuu | 9 | 2,500 | Africa |
| Zande | 6 | 1,898,500 | Africa |
| Indo-European | 586 | 3,237,999,904 | Global |
| Uralic | 49 | 20,716,457 | Eurasia |
| Tyrsenian | 3 or 4 | extinct | Eurasia |
| Turkic | 35 | 179,945,933 | Eurasia |
| Hurro-Urartian | 2 | extinct | Eurasia |
| Northwest Caucasian | 4 | 1,655,000 | Eurasia |
| Northeast Caucasian | 29[3] | 4,155,258 | Eurasia |
| Kartvelian | 4 | 4,850,000 | Eurasia |
| Dravidian | 84 | 252,807,610 | Eurasia |
| Great Andamanese | 10 | 3 | Eurasia |
| Ongan | 2 | 296 | Eurasia |
| Yeniseian | 6 | 153 | Eurasia |
| Yukaghir | 4 | 516 | Eurasia |
| Sino-Tibetan | 514 | 1,385,995,195 | Eurasia |
| Mijiic | 2 | 29,500 | Eurasia |
| Hmong–Mien | 43 | 9,332,070 | Eurasia |
| Kra–Dai | 95 | 81,549,828 | Eurasia |
| Austroasiatic | 158 | 116,323,040 | Eurasia |
| Austronesian | 1,274 | 325,862,510 | Africa, Eurasia, Oceania |
| Tungusic | 15 | 55,800 | Eurasia |
| Mongolic | 16 | 7,269,480 | Eurasia |
| Koreanic | 2 | 77,269,890 | Eurasia |
| Nivkh | 2 | 200 | Eurasia |
| Japonic | 13 | 129,240,180 | Eurasia |
| Ainu | 3 | extinct | Eurasia |
| Chukotko-Kamchatkan | 7 | 6,875 | Eurasia |
| Trans–New Guinea | 376 | 3,678,184 | New Guinea |
| Torricelli | 57 | 114,565 | New Guinea |
| Sepik | 49 | 263,404 | New Guinea |
| Lower Sepik | 6 | 13,070 | New Guinea |
| Timor–Alor–Pantar | 23 | 380,120 | Lesser Sunda Islands |
| Lakes Plain | 20 | 8,455 | New Guinea |
| Yam | 19 | 7,677 | New Guinea |
| Anim | 17 | 32,898 | New Guinea |
| Border | 15 | 17,080 | New Guinea |
| North Halmahera | 15 | 279,035 | Halmahera |
| Angan | 13 | 103,739 | New Guinea |
| Geelvink Bay | 10 | 8,005 | New Guinea |
| Sko | 10 | 5,665 | New Guinea |
| South Bougainville | 9 | 68,700 | New Guinea |
| Baining | 6 | 13,800 | New Guinea |
| Strickland | 8 | 6,175 | New Guinea |
| Goilalan | 6 | 47,330 | New Guinea |
| Kiwaia | 6 | 38,030 | New Guinea |
| Left May | 6 | 2,005 | New Guinea |
| South Bird's Head | 6 | 8,200 | New Guinea |
| Eleman | 5 | 45,240 | New Guinea |
| Foja Range | 26 | 23,845 | New Guinea |
| Pauwasi | 5 | 3,880 | New Guinea |
| West Bird's Head | 5 | 20,090 | New Guinea |
| Yuat | 5 | 7,700 | New Guinea |
| Eastern Trans-Fly | 4 | 6,760 | New Guinea |
| North Bougainville | 4 | 10,020 | New Guinea |
| Demta–Sentani | 4 | 36,680 | New Guinea |
| Gogodala–Suki | 4 | 30,160 | New Guinea |
| Kikorian | 6 | 13,510 | New Guinea |
| Walio | 4 | 856 | New Guinea |
| East Bird's Head | 3 | 34,800 | New Guinea |
| Mairasi | 3 | 4,385 | New Guinea |
| Amto–Musan | 2 | 720 | New Guinea |
| Baibai-Fas | 2 | 2,840 | New Guinea |
| Bulaka River | 3 | 520 | New Guinea |
| Hatam-Mansim | 2 | 16,000 | New Guinea |
| Inanwatan–Duriankere | 2 | 1,130 | New Guinea |
| Kaure-Kosare | 2 | 700 | New Guinea |
| Konda-Yahadian | 2 | 1,000 | New Guinea |
| Senu River | 3 | 1,510 | New Guinea |
| Lepki-Murkim-Kembra | 3 | 840 | New Guinea |
| Namla-Tofanma | 2 | 280 | New Guinea |
| Pahoturi | 2 | 4,050 | New Guinea |
| Madang–Upper Yuat | 112 | >10,000 | New Guinea |
| Senagi | 2 | 2,960 | New Guinea |
| Taulil-Butam | 2 | 2,000 | New Guinea |
| Ramu | 29 | 64,730 | New Guinea |
| Teberan–Pawaian | 4 | 37,100 | New Guinea |
| Yawa-Saweru | 2 | 10,300 | New Guinea |
| Central Solomon | 4 | 14,800 | New Guinea |
| Chimbu-Wahgi | 15 | 613,400 | New Guinea |
| Engan | 9 | 606,930 | New Guinea |
| Pama–Nyungan | 250 | 23,539 | Australia |
| Gunwinyguan | 5 | 1,314 | Australia |
| Western Daly | 3 | 21 | Australia |
| Nyulnyulan | 3 | 94 | Australia |
| Worrorran | 3 | 108 | Australia |
| Mirndi | 3 | 261 | Australia |
| Iwaidjan | 4 | 491 | Australia |
| Mangarrayi-Maran | 4 | 10 | Australia |
| Maningrida | 4 | 1,434 | Australia |
| Tangkic | 4 | 73 | Australia |
| Jarrakan | 3 | 130 | Australia |
| Bunuban | 2 | 100 | Australia |
| Eastern Daly | 2 | extinct | Australia |
| Garrwan | 2 | 130 | Australia |
| Limilngan-Wulna | 2 | 23 | Australia |
| Marrku-Wurrugu | 2 | extinct | Australia |
| Northeastern Tasmanian | 2 | extinct | Australia |
| Northern Daly | 2 | 8 | Australia |
| Southeastern Tasmanian | 2 | extinct | Australia |
| Western Tasmanian | 2 | extinct | Australia |
| Northern Tasmanian | 2 | extinct | Australia |
| Eskaleut | 10 | 108,705 | North America, Eurasia |
| Na-Dene | 46 | 208,552 | North America |
| Tsimshianic | 4 | 2,910 | North America |
| Wakashan | 6 | 710 | North America |
| Salishan | 25 | 1,969 | North America |
| Chimakuan | 2 | extinct | North America |
| Chinookan | 4 | extinct | North America |
| Kalapuyan | 3 | extinct | North America |
| Coosan | 2 | extinct | North America |
| Plateau | 4 | 125 | North America |
| Shastan | 4 | extinct | North America |
| Comecrudan | 3 | extinct | North America |
| Yuki–Wappo | 2 | extinct | North America |
| Pomoan | 7 | 47 | North America |
| Wintuan | 2 | extinct | North America |
| Palaihnihan | 2 | extinct | North America |
| Maiduan | 4 | extinct | North America |
| Utian | 13 | 18 | North America |
| Chumashan | 6 | extinct | North America |
| Uto-Aztecan | 58 | 1,910,442 | North America |
| Yuman–Cochimí | 12 | 3,710 | North America |
| Siouan | 14 | 33,399 | North America |
| Algic | 47 | 214,768 | North America |
| Tanoan–Kiowa | 6 | 6,000 | North America |
| Caddoan | 5 | 20 | North America |
| Totonacan | 12 | 282,250 | North America |
| Oto-Manguean | 176 | 1,678,214 | North America |
| Mixe–Zoque | 17 | 153,612 | North America |
| Tequistlatecan | 3 | 5,494 | North America |
| Muskogean | 6 | 15,640 | North America |
| Mayan | 31 | 6,522,182 | North America |
| Xincan | 5 | extinct | North America |
| Jicaquean | 2 | 500 | North America |
| Lencan | 2 | extinct | North America |
| Misumalpan | 5 | 709,000 | North America |
| Iroquoian | 9 | 14,543 | North America |
| Arawakan | 77 | 699,709 | North America, South America |
| Chibchan | 27 | 306,267 | North America, South America |
| Chocoan | 9 | 114,600 | North America, South America |
| Andoque–Urequena | 2 | 370 | South America |
| Cariban | 42 | 67,376 | North America, South America |
| Barbacoan | 6 | 24,800 | South America |
| Chicham | 4 | 89,630 | South America |
| Quechuan | 45 | 7,768,820 | South America |
| Aymaran | 4 | 2,808,740 | South America |
| Uru–Chipaya | 2 | 1,200 | South America |
| Huarpean | 3 | extinct | South America |
| Araucanian | 2 | 262,000 | South America |
| Chonan | 6 | extinct | South America |
| Alacalufan | 3 | 10 | South America |
| Guajiboan | 5 | 39,290 | South America |
| Nukak–Kakwa | 2 | 610 | South America |
| Otomákoan | 2 | extinct | South America |
| Piaroa–Saliban | 3 | 18,630 | South America |
| Nadahup | 4 | 2,894 | South America |
| Yanomaman | 4 | 31,670 | South America |
| Tucanoan | 23 | 30,308 | South America |
| Boran | 2 | 1,500 | South America |
| Witotoan | 7 | 17,478 | South America |
| Peba–Yaguan | 3 | 5,700 | South America |
| Zaparoan | 3 | 90 | South America |
| Hibito–Cholon | 2 | extinct | South America |
| Cahuapanan | 2 | 10,370 | South America |
| Ticuna–Yuri | 2 | 48,580 | South America |
| Panoan | 38 | 48,679 | South America |
| Arawan | 6 | 5,870 | South America |
| Harákmbut–Katukinan | 4 | 3,310 | South America |
| Tupian | 70 | 5,026,502 | South America |
| Chapacuran | 4 | 2,019 | South America |
| Nambikwaran | 6 | 1,068 | South America |
| Bororoan | 3 | 1,392 | South America |
| Kariri | 4 | extinct | South America |
| Zamucoan | 2 | 5,900 | South America |
| Tacanan | 7 | 2,860 | South America |
| Mascoian | 6 | 20,728 | South America |
| Matacoan | 7 | 60,280 | South America |
| Guaicuruan | 4 | 49,350 | South America |
| Macro-Jê | 29 | 51,093 | South America |
| Charruan | 3 | extinct | South America |
| Purian | 2 | extinct | South America |
| Puquina | 4 | extinct | South America |
| Cañari–Puruhá | 2 | extinct | South America |
| Jirajaran | 3 | extinct | South America |
| Lule-Vilela | 2 | extinct | South America |
| Timotean | 2 | extinct | South America |
| Tiniguan | 3 | 1 | South America |
Sign language families
| Family Name | Location | Number of |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Maps of several language families
-
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
-
Ethnolinguistic groups of mainland Southeast Asia
-
Caucasian languages
-
Distribution of the Uralic, Altaic, and Yukaghir languages
See also
- Constructed language – Intentionally devised human language
- Ethnologue § Language families
- Social:Extinct language – Language that no longer has any first-language or second-language speakers
- Index of language articles
- Social: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
- List of proposed language families
- Unclassified language
References
External links
- Glottolog
- Ethnologue
- Comparative Swadesh list tables of various language families (from Wiktionary)
Bibliography
- Boas, Franz. (1911). Handbook of American Indian languages (Vol. 1). Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 40. Washington: Government Print Office (Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology).
- Boas, Franz. (1922). Handbook of American Indian languages (Vol. 2). Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 40. Washington: Government Print Office (Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology).
- Boas, Franz. (1933). Handbook of American Indian languages (Vol. 3). Native American legal materials collection, title 1227. Glückstadt: J.J. Augustin.
- Campbell, Lyle. (1997). American Indian languages: The historical linguistics of Native America. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509427-1.
- Campbell, Lyle; & Mithun, Marianne (Eds.). (1979). The languages of native America: Historical and comparative assessment. Austin: University of Texas Press.
- Goddard, Ives (Ed.). (1996). Languages. Handbook of North American Indians (W. C. Sturtevant, General Ed.) (Vol. 17). Washington, D. C.: Smithsonian Institution. ISBN 0-16-048774-9.
- Goddard, Ives. (1999). Native languages and language families of North America (rev. and enlarged ed. with additions and corrections). [Map]. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press (Smithsonian Institution). (Updated version of the map in Goddard 1996). ISBN 0-8032-9271-6.
- Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (Ed.). (2005). Ethnologue: Languages of the world (15th ed.). Dallas, TX: SIL International. ISBN 1-55671-159-X. (Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com).
- Greenberg, Joseph H. (1966). The Languages of Africa (2nd ed.). Bloomington: Indiana University.
- Mithun, Marianne. (1999). The languages of Native North America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-23228-7 (hbk); ISBN 0-521-29875-X.
- Ross, Malcolm. (2005). Pronouns as a preliminary diagnostic for grouping Papuan languages. In: Andrew Pawley, Robert Attenborough, Robin Hide and Jack Golson, eds, Papuan pasts: cultural, linguistic and biological histories of Papuan-speaking peoples
- Ruhlen, Merritt. (1987). A guide to the world's languages. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
- Sturtevant, William C. (Ed.). (1978–present). Handbook of North American Indians (Vol. 1–20). Washington, D. C.: Smithsonian Institution. (Vols. 1–3, 16, 18–20 not yet published).
- Voegelin, C. F.; & Voegelin, F. M. (1977). Classification and index of the world's languages. New York: Elsevier.
- Wittmann, Henri (1991). "Classification linguistique des langues signées non vocalement." Revue québécoise de linguistique théorique et appliquée 10:1.215-88.
