Contemporary languages and endangerment status. (Claire Bowern via SWNS)
Thousands more different languages were spoken in the past than today, according to new research.
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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)
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Contemporary languages; with language isolates highlighted in pink. (Claire Bowern via SWNS)
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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
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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
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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
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