List of language families

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

Family	Languages [1]	Current speakers [2]	Location	Proposed parent family
Afroasiatic	381	499,294,669	Africa, Eurasia
Aroid	5	438,100	Africa	Afroasiatic
Atlantic–Congo	1,410	500,000,000	Africa	Niger–Congo
Berta	6	380,000	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Central Sudanic	63	9,145,280	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Daju	7	261,000	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Dizoid	3	88,840	Africa	Afroasiatic
Dogon	20	630,820	Africa	Niger–Congo
Eastern Jebel	4	104,600	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Fur	2	786,900	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Gumuz	3	253,680	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Heiban	10	276,690	Africa	Niger–Congo
Ijaw	9	3,221,650	Africa	Niger–Congo
Kadu	6	120,600	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Katla-Tima	3	25,000	Africa	Niger–Congo
Khoe-Kwadi	14	337,337	Africa
Koman	5	94,000	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Kresh-Aja	3	48,200	Africa	Central Sudanic
Kru	38	3,800,000	Africa	Niger–Congo
Kuliak	3	14,070	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Kunama	2	181,000	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Kx'a	5	104,000	Africa
Maban	10	1,115,260	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Mande	75	27,003,000	Africa	Niger–Congo
Nilotic	55	33,306,780	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Nubian	13	842,050	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Nyima	2	162,000	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Rashad	2	126,000	Africa	Niger–Congo
Saharan	10	10,940,500	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Songhay	10	3,228,000	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
Surmic	11	544,680	Africa
Talodi	8	112,250	Africa	Niger–Congo
Taman	4	128,800	Africa
Ta-Ne-Omotic	23	7,383,320	Africa	Afroasiatic
Temein	2	14,400	Africa	Nilo-Saharan
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	Altaic (controversial)
Hurro-Urartian	2	extinct	Eurasia	Alarodian
Northwest Caucasian	4	1,655,000	Eurasia	North Caucasian
Northeast Caucasian	29 [3]	4,155,258	Eurasia	North Caucasian or Alarodian
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	Dene-Yeniseian
Yukaghir	4	516	Eurasia
Sino-Tibetan	514	1,385,995,195	Eurasia
Mijiic	2	29,500	Eurasia	Sino-Tibetan
Hmong–Mien	43	9,332,070	Eurasia	Miao–Dai or Austric
Kra–Dai	95	81,549,828	Eurasia	Austro-Tai
Austroasiatic	158	116,323,040	Eurasia	Austric languages
Austronesian	1,274	325,862,510	Africa, Eurasia, Oceania	Austro-Tai
Tungusic	15	55,800	Eurasia	Altaic (controversial)
Mongolic	16	7,269,480	Eurasia	Altaic (controversial)
Koreanic	2	77,269,890	Eurasia	Altaic (controversial)
Nivkh	2	200	Eurasia	Nivkh–Kamchukotic
Japonic	13	129,240,180	Eurasia	Altaic (controversial)
Ainu	3	extinct	Eurasia	Altaic (controversial)
Chukotko-Kamchatkan	7	6,875	Eurasia	Nivkh–Kamchukotic
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	Ramu–Lower Sepik languages
Timor–Alor–Pantar	23	380,120	New Guinea	Trans–New Guinea
Lakes Plain	20	8,455	New Guinea
Yam	19	7,677	New Guinea
Anim	17	32,898	New Guinea	Trans–New Guinea
Border	15	17,080	New Guinea
North Halmahera	15	279,035	New Guinea	West Papuan
Angan	13	103,739	New Guinea	Trans–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	Left May – Kwomtari
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	West Papuan
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	West Papuan
Mairasi	3	4,385	New Guinea
Amto–Musan	2	720	New Guinea
Baibai-Fas	2	2,840	New Guinea	Left May – Kwomtari, Kwomtari–Fas
Bulaka River	3	520	New Guinea
Hatam-Mansim	2	16,000	New Guinea	West Papuan
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	Left May–Kwomtari or Kwomtari–Fas
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	Ramu–Lower Sepik
Teberan–Pawaian	4	37,100	New Guinea
Yawa-Saweru	2	10,300	New Guinea	West Papuan
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	Arnhem
Mangarrayi-Maran	4	10	Australia
Maningrida	4	1,434	Australia	Arnhem
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	Dene-Yeniseian
Tsimshianic	4	2,910	North America	Penutian
Wakashan	6	710	North America
Salishan	25	1,969	North America
Chimakuan	2	extinct	North America
Chinookan	4	extinct	North America	Penutian
Kalapuyan	3	extinct	North America	Penutian
Coosan	2	extinct	North America	Penutian
Plateau	4	125	North America	Penutian
Shastan	4	extinct	North America	Hokan
Comecrudan	3	extinct	North America	Hokan
Yuki–Wappo	2	extinct	North America
Pomoan	7	47	North America	Hokan
Wintuan	2	extinct	North America	Penutian
Palaihnihan	2	extinct	North America	Hokan
Maiduan	4	3	North America	Penutian
Utian	13	18	North America	Penutian
Chumashan	6	extinct	North America
Uto-Aztecan	58	1,910,442	North America	Aztec–Tanoan
Yuman–Cochimí	12	3,710	North America	Hokan
Siouan	14	33,399	North America	Macro-Siouan
Algic	47	214,768	North America
Tanoan–Kiowa	6	6,000	North America	Aztec–Tanoan
Caddoan	5	20	North America	Macro-Siouan
Totonacan	12	282,250	North America	Totozoquean
Oto-Manguean	176	1,678,214	North America
Mixe–Zoque	17	153,612	North America	Totozoquean
Tequistlatecan	3	5,494	North America	Hokan
Muskogean	6	15,640	North America	Gulf
Mayan	31	6,522,182	North America
Xincan	5	extinct	North America	Macro-Chibchan
Jicaquean	2	500	North America	Hokan
Lencan	2	extinct	North America	Macro-Chibchan or Hokan
Misumalpan	5	709,000	North America	Macro-Chibchan
Iroquoian	9	14,543	North America	Macro-Siouan
Arawakan	77	699,709	North America, South America	Macro-Arawakan
Chibchan	27	306,267	North America, South America	Macro-Chibchan
Chocoan	9	114,600	North America, South America
Andoque–Urequena	2	370	South America	Bora–Witoto
Cariban	42	67,376	North America, South America	Je–Tupi–Carib
Barbacoan	6	24,800	South America	Macro-Paesan
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	Moseten–Chonan
Alacalufan	3	10	South America
Guajiboan	5	39,290	South America	Macro-Arawakan
Nukak–Kakwa	2	610	South America	Macro-Puinavean
Otomákoan	2	extinct	South America	Macro-Otomákoan
Piaroa–Saliban	3	18,630	South America
Nadahup	4	2,894	South America	Macro-Puinavean
Yanomaman	4	31,670	South America
Tucanoan	23	30,308	South America
Boran	2	1,500	South America	Bora–Witoto
Witotoan	7	17,478	South America	Bora–Witoto
Peba–Yaguan	3	5,700	South America	Saparo–Yawan
Zaparoan	3	90	South America	Saparo–Yawan
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	Macro-Panoan
Arawan	6	5,870	South America
Harákmbut–Katukinan	4	3310	South America	Macro-Puinavean
Tupian	70	5,026,502	South America	Je–Tupi–Carib
Chapacuran	4	2,019	South America	Wamo–Chapakura
Nambikwaran	6	1,068	South America
Bororoan	3	1,392	South America	Macro-Jê
Kariri	4	extinct	South America	Macro-Jê
Zamucoan	2	5,900	South America
Tacanan	7	2,860	South America	Macro-Panoan languages
Mascoian	6	20,728	South America	Mataco–Guaicuru
Matacoan	7	60,280	South America	Mataco–Guaicuru
Guaicuruan	4	49,350	South America	Mataco–Guaicuru
Macro-Jê	29	51,093	South America	Je–Tupi–Carib
Charruan	3	extinct	South America	Mataco–Guaicuru
Purian	2	extinct	South America	Macro-Jê
Puquina	4	extinct	South America
Catacaoan	3	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

See also: List of sign languages and Sign Language § Classification

The family relationships of sign languages are not well established due to lagging linguistic research, and many are isolates (cf. Wittmann 1991). ^[4]

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

• 
  Map of the main language families of the world
• 
  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  – Language that is intentionally devised; not emergent from human interaction
• Endangered language  – Language that is at risk of going extinct
• Ethnologue#Language families
• Extinct language  – Language that no longer has any first-language or second-language 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
• List of proposed language families

References

1. "Glottolog 5.0 -". glottolog.org. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
2. "What are the largest language families?". Ethnologue. May 25, 2019.
3. "North Caucasian". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
4. 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)