Can we trace back these languages until we find one single language, the father of all languages?
2007-03-14 00:29:49 · 4 answers · asked by Yakazart 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
This report by Stephen R. Anderson of the Linguistic Society of America explains how complicated the question really is. According to Anderson, estimates have risen steadily over time. A 1911 version of the Encyclopedia Britannica, for example, "implies a figure somewhere around 1,000." Throughout the century, that figure grew as experts broadened the "language" definition.
In his report, Anderson cites the Ethnologue organization. According to Ethnologue, there are currently 6,912 living languages, defined as languages that people speak today. Interestingly, the part of the world with the highest level of linguistic diversity is Papua New Guinea. The region has approximately 830 languages for around 5.4 million people. That's about one language for every 6,500 residents.
Sanskrit is generally regarded as the mother of all languages.
Hope this helps!!
2007-03-14 00:37:09 · answer #1 · answered by Shrey G 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
English, Persian, Turkish, French, German, Japanese, Philipino, Romania, Hindi, Arabic and many others.
2007-03-14 08:12:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
for family index of languages:
http://www.ethnologue.com/family_index.asp
also tells of number of speakers of various languages.
2007-03-14 09:54:43 · answer #3 · answered by Fiamanillah 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About 2000, and maybe.
2007-03-14 07:38:57 · answer #4 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋