How many language families are there in the world?

Language Families And Linguistic Diversity Questions Medium



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How many language families are there in the world?

There is no definitive answer to the exact number of language families in the world, as linguistic classifications are constantly evolving and subject to ongoing research. However, it is generally accepted that there are approximately 6,000 to 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, which can be grouped into around 150 to 200 language families. These language families are characterized by shared ancestry and common linguistic features, indicating their historical connections. Some well-known language families include Indo-European, Sino-Tibetan, Afro-Asiatic, Austronesian, and Niger-Congo.