Language Families
Ethnologue classification is based on Bright (1992), but has evolved with input from many individual researchers. The information on classification in the individual language articles is based on this information. However, the family trees are computer-generated and strongly dependent on consistency in the formatting of the classification data; consequently they are inconsistent and frequently show spurious groupings.
Following are the 121 language families listed in the Ethnologue language family index of the 16th edition. The first column gives the Ethnologue name for the group, followed by the location by continent and Ethnologue's count of the number of languages in the family. In addition to language families, Ethnologue lists 1 constructed language, 82 creoles, 17 pidgins, 130 Deaf sign languages, 23 mixed languages, 50 language isolates, and 73 unclassified languages.
Family | Continent | Count |
---|---|---|
Afroasiatic | Africa/Asia | 374 |
Alacalufan | South America | 2 |
Algic | North America | 44 |
Altaic | Europe/Asia | 66 |
Amto–Musan | Australasia | 2 |
Andamanese | Asia | 13 |
Arafundi | Australasia | 3 |
Arai–Kwomtari | Australasia | 10 |
Arauan | South America | 5 |
Araucanian | South America | 2 |
Arawakan | South America | 59 |
Arutani–Sape | South America | 2 |
Australian | Australasia | 264 |
Austro-Asiatic | Asia | 169 |
Austronesian | Asia/Australasia | 1257 |
Aymaran | South America | 3 |
Barbacoan | South America | 7 |
Basque | Europe | 1 |
Bayono–Awbono | Australasia | 2 |
Border | Australasia | 15 |
Caddoan | North America | 5 |
Cahuapanan | South America | 2 |
Carib | South America | 31 |
Central Solomons | Australasia | 4 |
Chapacura-Wanham | South America | 5 |
Chibchan | South America | 21 |
Chimakuan | North America | 1 |
Choco | South America | 12 |
Chon | South America | 2 |
Chukotko-Kamchatkan | Asia | 5 |
Chumash | North America | 7 |
Coahuiltecan | North America | 1 |
Dravidian | Asia | 85 |
East Bird's Head – Sentani | Australasia | 8 |
East Geelvink Bay | Australasia | 11 |
East New Britain | Australasia | 7 |
Eastern Trans-Fly | Australasia | 4 |
Eskimo–Aleut | North America | 11 |
Guahiban | South America | 5 |
Gulf | North America | 4 |
Harakmbet | South America | 2 |
Hibito–Cholon | South America | 2 |
Hmong–Mien | Asia | 38 |
Hokan | North America | 23 |
Huavean | North America | 4 |
Indo-European | Europe/Asia | 439 |
Iroquoian | North America | 9 |
Japonic | Asia | 12 |
Jivaroan | South America | 4 |
Kartvelian | Asia | 5 |
Katukinan | South America | 3 |
Kaure | Australasia | 4 |
Keres | North America | 2 |
Khoisan | Africa | 27 |
Kiowa–Tanoan | North America | 6 |
Lakes Plain | Australasia | 20 |
Left May | Australasia | 2 |
Lower Mamberamo | Australasia | 2 |
Lule–Vilela | South America | 1 |
Macro-Ge | South America | 32 |
Mairasi | Australasia | 3 |
Maku | South America | 6 |
Mascoian | South America | 5 |
Mataco–Guaicuru | South America | 12 |
Mayan | North America | 69 |
Maybrat | Australasia | 2 |
Misumalpan | North America | 4 |
Mixe–Zoque | North America | 17 |
Mongol-Langam | Australasia | 3 |
Mura | South America | 1 |
Muskogean | North America | 6 |
Na-Dené | North America | 46 |
Nambiquaran | South America | 7 |
Niger–Congo | Africa | 1532 |
Nilo-Saharan | Africa | 205 |
Nimboran | Australasia | 5 |
North Bougainville | Australasia | 4 |
North Brazil | South America | 1 |
North Caucasian | Europe/Asia | 34 |
Oto-Manguean | North America | 177 |
Panoan | South America | 28 |
Pauwasi | Australasia | 5 |
Peba–Yaguan | South America | 2 |
Penutian | North America | 33 |
Piawi | Australasia | 2 |
Quechuan | South America | 46 |
Ramu – Lower Sepik | Australasia | 32 |
Salishan | North America | 26 |
Salivan | South America | 3 |
Senagi | Australasia | 2 |
Sepik | Australasia | 56 |
Sino-Tibetan | Asia | 449 |
Siouan | North America | 17 |
Sko | Australasia | 7 |
Somahai | Australasia | 2 |
South Bougainville | Australasia | 9 |
South-Central Papuan | Australasia | 22 |
Tacanan | South America | 6 |
Tai–Kadai | Asia | 92 |
Tarascan | North America | 2 |
Tequistlatecan | North America | 2 |
Tor–Kwerba | Australasia | 24 |
Torricelli | Australasia | 56 |
Totonacan | North America | 12 |
Trans–New Guinea | Australasia | 477 |
Tucanoan | South America | 25 |
Tupi | South America | 76 |
Uralic | Europe/Asia | 37 |
Uru–Chipaya | South America | 2 |
Uto-Aztecan | North America | 61 |
Wakashan | North America | 5 |
West Papuan | Australasia | 23 |
Witotoan | South America | 6 |
Yanomam | South America | 4 |
Yele – West New Britain | Australasia | 3 |
Yeniseian | Asia | 2 |
Yuat | Australasia | 6 |
Yukaghir | Asia | 2 |
Yuki–Wappo | North America | 2 |
Zamucoan | South America | 2 |
Zaparoan | South America | 7 |
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