Contemporary languages and endangerment status. (Claire Bowern via SWNS)
By Talker
Thousands more different languages were spoken in the past than today, according to new research.
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kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmwF>2?:EJ 6IA6C:6?465 2 Q8@=56? 286Q @7 =:?8F:DE:4 5:G6CD:EJ H96? E6?D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 =2?8F286D H6C6 DA@<6? H@C=5H:56 36EH66? `[___ 2?5 b[___ J62CD[ D2J D4:6?E:DED]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmp =@?8 564=:?6 E92E 4@?E:?F6D E@ E96 AC6D6?E 3682? H6== 367@C6 tFC@A62? 4@=@?:2= 6IA2?D:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 7:?5:?8D AF3=:D965 :? E96 ;@FC?2= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D4:6?46]@C8^;@FC?2=^D4:6?46Qm$4:6?46k^2m]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 C6D62C49 E62> 6DE:>2E6D E92E 36EH66? 23@FE c[d__ 2?5 e[a__ =2?8F286D H6C6 DA@<6? 2E E96 368:??:?8 @7 E96 w@=@46?6 A6C:@5[ 23@FE `a[___ J62CD 28@ — 76H6C E92? E96 C@F89=J f[d__ =2?8F286D DA@<6? 2?5 D:8?65 E@52J]k^Am
Hittite language example, known only from ancient sources and no longer spoken. Tablet fragment. Invocations to Hattic deities; CTH 733. Hittite. Clay. YBC 16173. (Klaus Wagensonner via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmpD E96 8=@32= 9F>2? A@AF=2E:@? 8C6H[ =2?8F286 5:G6CD:EJ 2=D@ :?4C62D65]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm|@56=D DF886DE E92E E6?D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 =2?8F286D >2J 92G6 6I:DE65 36EH66? `[___ 2?5 b[___ J62CD 28@]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 564=:?6 :? =:?8F:DE:4 5:G6CD:EJ 2AA62CD E@ 92G6 368F? H:E9 E96 6IA2?D:@? @7 =2C86 DE2E6D 2?5 6>A:C6D[ =@?8 367@C6 >@56C? tFC@A62? 4@=@?:2=:D>]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 =2?8F286D DA@<6? E@52J C6AC6D6?E 2 QD>2== 2?5 9:DE@C:42==JQ 3:2D65 D2>A=6 @7 A2DE =:?8F:DE:4 5:G6CD:EJ]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmp? :?E6C?2E:@?2= E62> @7 C6D62C496CD 7C@> E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[ v6C>2?J 2?5 $A2:? C64@?DECF4E65 A=2FD:3=6 EC2;64E@C:6D @7 8=@32= =2?8F286 5:G6CD:EJ 24C@DD E96 =2DE `a[___ J62CD]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm|2C4FD w2>:=E@?[ @7 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FED2]65F^Qm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 %6I2D 2E $2? p?E@?:@k^2m[ D2:5i Q%9:D A2A6C AC6D6?ED 2? :??@G2E:G6 2AAC@249 E@ F?56CDE2?5:?8 E96 5J?2>:4D @7 9F>2? 4F=EFC2= 5:G6CD:EJ :? E96 A2DE[ 255C6DD:?8 @?6 @7 E96 46?EC2= J6E =62DE 2446DD:3=6 BF6DE:@?D :? E96 9F>2? D4:6?46D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ!C@8C6DD 92D 366? =:>:E65 ?@E 3J 2 =24< @7 E96@C6E:42= :?E6C6DE 3FE 3J E96 6I46AE:@?2= 5:77:4F=EJ @7 @3D6CG:?8 E96 C6=6G2?E 5J?2>:4D 6>A:C:42==J]Qk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmw6 6IA=2:?65 E92E 5:C64E 6G:56?46 7@C E96 ?F>36C @7 =2?8F286D :D 2=>@DE 6?E:C6=J 23D6?E 367@C6 E96 2AA62C2?46 @7 HC:E:?8 23@FE e[___ J62CD 28@[ 2?5 C6>2:?D 7C28>6?E2CJ F?E:= BF:E6 C646?E=J]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 C6D62C496CD 4@>3:?65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ae^_f^aa^>28:42=\C62D@?D\2?4:6?E\:?5:86?@FD\2FDEC2=:2?D\3FC?65\8C2DD\C6G62=65^Qm6E9?@8C2A9:4 :?7@C>2E:@?k^2m[ 6DE:>2E6D @7 AC69:DE@C:4 A@AF=2E:@? D:K6[ 2?5 DE2E:DE:42= 2?5 D@4:2=\4@>AFE2E:@?2= >@56=:?8]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96J 3682? H:E9 6E9?@8C2A9:4 52E2 7C@> `f` k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ab^_b^_a^56E2:=D\@7\:46\286\9F?E6C\82E96C6CD\C6G62=65^Qm9F?E6C\82E96C6Ck^2m 2?5 7:D96C D@4:6E:6D H9@D6 EC25:E:@?2= DF3D:DE6?46 2?5 >@3:=:EJ 925 ?@E 366? EC2?D7@C>65 3J 4@?E24E H:E9 7@@5\AC@5F4:?8 A@AF=2E:@?D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 52E2 2==@H65 E96 C6D62C496CD E@ 6DE:>2E6 E96 =:<6=J 5:DEC:3FE:@? @7 6E9?@=:?8F:DE:4 8C@FA D:K6D ?62C E96 368:??:?8 @7 E96 w@=@46?6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 C6D62C496CD E96? 4@>3:?65 E96 6DE:>2E6D H:E9 C64@?DECF4E:@?D DF886DE:?8 E92E E96 8=@32= 9F>2? A@AF=2E:@? `a[___ J62CD 28@ H2D 36EH66? 23@FE c]c >:==:@? 2?5 f >:==:@?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmpDDF>:?8 E92E 6E9?@=:?8F:DE:4 8C@FAD 2E E92E E:>6 86?6C2==J 4@CC6DA@?565 E@ 5:DE:?4E =2?8F286D[ E96 >@56=D AC@5F465 2? 62C=J\w@=@46?6 6DE:>2E6 46?E6C65 @? 23@FE c[d__ E@ e[a__ =2?8F286D[ 2=E9@F89 3C@256C A=2FD:3=6 6DE:>2E6D C2?865 7C@> 23@FE b[b__ E@ f[g__]k^Am
Contemporary languages; with language isolates highlighted in pink. (Claire Bowern via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm#FDD6== vC2J[ 7C@> E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6G2]>A8]56^Qm|2I !=2?4< x?DE:EFE6 7@C tG@=FE:@?2CJ p?E9C@A@=@8Jk^2m :? v6C>2?J[ D2:5i Q~?6 @7 E96 7:CDE DFCAC:D6D H2D E92E E96 H@C=5 :>>65:2E6=J 367@C6 28C:4F=EFC6 H2D AC@323=J ?@E 6I46AE:@?2==J C:49 :? =2?8F286D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ %96C6 H6C6 >@DE =:<6=J 76H6C =2?8F286D E92? E96C6 2C6 E@52J]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ{:?8F:DE:4 5:G6CD:EJ E96? 8C6H 2=@?8D:56 E96 9F>2? A@AF=2E:@? 7@C E9@FD2?5D @7 J62CD]Qk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ab^_b^ac^62C=J\6FC@A62?\72C>6CD\DFCG:G65\3642FD6\E96J\925\=@ED\@7\D6I^Qmp8C:4F=EFC6k^2m[ E649?@=@8:42= :??@G2E:@? 2?5 >@C6 DE23=6 7@@5 AC@5F4E:@? 2==@H65 E96 8=@32= A@AF=2E:@? E@ 6IA2?5 5C2>2E:42==J]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmpE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ D@4:6E:6D 3642>6 =2C86C[ >62?:?8 E92E AC@8C6DD:G6=J >@C6 A6@A=6 4@F=5 D92C6 E96 D2>6 =2?8F286]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 C6D62C496CD >@56=65 E9@FD2?5D @7 A@DD:3=6 EC2;64E@C:6D 4@??64E:?8 6DE:>2E6D 2E E96 368:??:?8 @7 E96 w@=@46?6 H:E9 E96 AC6D6?E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 >@56=D 2==@H65 E96 ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 A6C =2?8F286 E@ :?4C62D6 @G6C E:>6[ H9:=6 :?4@CA@C2E:?8 :?56A6?56?E C64@?DECF4E:@?D @7 8=@32= A@AF=2E:@? 8C@HE9]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmp=E9@F89 E96 AC64:D6 EC2;64E@CJ C6>2:?D F?46CE2:?[ E96 >@56=D 4@?D:DE6?E=J AC@5F465 2 DEC:<:?8 86?6C2= A2EE6C?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm{2?8F286 5:G6CD:EJ :?4C62D65 @G6C >@DE @7 E96 w@=@46?6 2?5 EJA:42==J A62<65 36EH66? `[___ 2?5 b[___ J62CD 28@]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm|2?J EC2;64E@C:6D :>A=J 2? 2AAC@I:>2E6=J `_\7@=5 :?4C62D6 7C@> 62C=J\w@=@46?6 =6G6=D[ A=24:?8 E96 A62< ?F>36C @7 =2?8F286D :? E96 E6?D @7 E9@FD2?5D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmr=2:C6 q@H6C?[ @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J2=6]65F^Qm*2=6 &?:G6CD:EJk^2m[ D2:5i Q%96 >@DE F?6IA64E65 C6DF=E :D 9@H C646?E E96 A62< 2AA62CD E@ 92G6 366?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ%96 A6C:@5 @7 8C62E6DE =:?8F:DE:4 5:G6CD:EJ >2J 92G6 @44FCC65 ?@E :? E96 C6>@E6 !2=6@=:E9:4[ 3FE 5FC:?8 E96 6C2 @7 6IA2?5:?8 DE2E6D 2?5 62C=J 6>A:C6DQ[k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 C6D62C49 E62> 56D4C:36D E96 A6C:@5 2D 2 =:?8F:DE:4 Q8@=56? 286Q H9:49 92D =2C86=J 6D42A65 AC6G:@FD 5:D4FDD:@? 3642FD6 >@DE DFCG:G:?8 9:DE@C:42= C64@C5D H6C6 AC@5F465 3J E96 6IA2?5:?8 D@4:6E:6D H9@D6 =2?8F286D 6G6?EF2==J 3642>6 5@>:?2?E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmqFE E96 =:?8F:DE:4 8@=56? 286 H2D 7@==@H65 3J 2 C2A:5 564=:?6[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 5FC:?8 E96 =2DE EH@ >:==6??:2]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 7:?5:?8D 492==6?86 E96 G:6H E92E E96 AC6D6?E =2?8F286\6?52?86C>6?E 4C:D:D 3682? @?=J H:E9 tFC@A62? 4@=@?:2= 6IA2?D:@? 23@FE d__ J62CD 28@]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 >@56= 5@6D ?@E :56?E:7J H9:49 A2CE:4F=2C 6>A:C6D[ C68:@?D @C 9:DE@C:42= 6G6?ED 42FD65 E96 8=@32= 564=:?6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm#2E96C[ :E D9@HD E92E 2 G6CJ =2C86 C65F4E:@? :? =:?8F:DE:4 5:G6CD:EJ >FDE 92G6 E2<6? A=246 367@C6 E96 AC6D6?E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 7:?5:?8D DF886DE E92E =2?8F286D 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 6IA2?5:?8 A@AF=2E:@?D H6C6 5:DAC@A@CE:@?2E6=J =:<6=J E@ DFCG:G6[ H9:=6 E96 =2?8F286D @7 23D@C365[ 5:DA=2465 @C 564=:?:?8 A@AF=2E:@?D 5:D2AA62C65]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm$EF5J =625 2FE9@C s2>:2? q=2D: D2:5i Q%96 =2?8F286D H6 D66 E@52J 2C6 E96 DFCG:G@CD @7 2 >2DD:G6 2?5 9:89=J D6=64E:G6 9:DE@C:42= 3@EE=6?64<]Qk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmq=2D:[ 2 C6D62C496C 2E E96 r2E2=2? x?DE:EFE:@? 7@C #6D62C49 2?5 p5G2?465 $EF5:6D Wxr#tpX 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]92CG2C5]65F^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmw2CG2C5 &?:G6CD:EJk^2m[ 25565i Qp =:?8F:DE:4 762EFC6 >2J 36 4@>>@? ?@E 3642FD6 :E :D :?96C6?E=J DFA6C:@C[ 3FE 3642FD6 :E 92AA6?65 E@ 36 42CC:65 3J A@AF=2E:@?D E92E 6IA2?565]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQtIE:?4E:@? >2J 92G6 D92A65 =:?8F:DE:4 5:G6CD:EJ >F49 >@C6 AC@7@F?5=J E92? H6 AC6G:@FD=J 2AAC64:2E65]Qk^Am
