Find out how many different languages are spoken across the world, and which countries differ in their lingual scope.
The world is a big, beautiful place full of many different cultures, countries, people and languages. As we all become more and more connected by the internet, it’s becoming a real asset, if not expectation, for the individual to know more than one language to truly connect to a global community. It is key to invest in a professional company to localise the translation.
For businesses, the pressure for language inclusivity and reach goes further. For any business to actively target any market, an English voice over, English subtitles or other linear language direction is not enough. Even in the UK, there are multiple languages being spoken by multiple communities in every county. And with online sales and marketing, you can’t expect customers to shop in languages that they are not completely familiar with. There’s a place for every business to include multiple languages in their website design, marketing content, international PR and customer service efforts.
Whether you are hoping to learn a new language or integrate languages into your business operations, a good start is getting an understanding of the world’s languages, which might be more extensive than you think. Let’s take a closer look:
How Many Different Languages Are Spoken Across the World?
Back in the early 1900’s the figures for worldwide languages were around 1000, but in the most recent years we can now actually understand the real figures, which sit at around 7,000! These are distinct, classified languages that are listed without counting dialects.
These worldwide languages are not evenly distributed, either. The languages in Europe top 200, and yet in Asia the number of languages tops 2,000. Some countries, like Papua New Guinea are particularly language rich and boast over 800. For those eager to experience this linguistic and cultural diversity first hand, Papua New Guinea tours provide an incredible opportunity to connect with local communities. These tours offer guided experiences that showcase the country’s unique traditions, history, and way of life.
Worldwide Language Origins
Across the world we know about language trees and some history of different languages, although there is still a lot to be learned, and much that will likely always remain a mystery.
Even religious texts, which were created in a way said to have reflected ‘real events’ of the time, don’t really tell us about the languages that were said to have been spoken many years ago. What we do know for sure is that writing systems were the first real indication of language that can be proven and studied. We can trace the invention of writing right back to 4000 BC by the Sumerians who lived in Southern Iraq (previously called Southern Mesopotamia). The same people invented a way to recognise/ standardise time.
The Decline in Worldwide Languages
Although we now recognise the most languages we ever have, in reality, the number of languages officially listed will only go down again. That is because many of them will cease to exist, sadly. This is due to many different factors.
One primary factor is education. If certain languages are no longer taught in schools, the knowledge dies, and it is unlikely that it will survive. Of course, it will be known, but it will cease to be used. You can see this happen in lots of places across the world where single languages exist and are spoken by very small numbers of people. This is common with indigenous languages which have been somewhat extinguished by European movement across the world. This can be seen occurring in Australia, as Aboriginal languages are disappearing at speed because of the gradual, but substantial European migration to the country.
Choosing The Right Language for Learning
If you want to learn a language and you feel a little torn, the good news is that you have over 7000 to choose from! But which language should you choose?
Studies say that Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese can be harder because the different phonetics are problematic for learners when it comes to grasping the language. However, this is only if you do not speak a tonal language already. If you do speak a tonal language already, it will be vastly easier for you to then learn another.
If you are new to language and you want the easiest language to learn, commonly, German, Spanish and French are known for being quite easy to grasp overall. Of course, you may be learning a language because you want to become a male voice over artist who specialises in multilingual voice overs, or you want to travel and have the best chance at communicating well across multiple countries. If that is you, it’s worth speaking to a voice over agency to see which languages are the most popular, or to look more carefully at your travel itinerary. Various ones, like Spanish, are used in multiple countries, but it’s important to check first before committing your time to learning.
Choosing The Right Language for Business
When it comes to choosing the right language for business, it depends on where your target audience is. Some countries, like Aruba, Luxembourg, Malaysia and India use multiple languages. Some countries tend to speak one main language overall and are less likely to be bilingual or multilingual.
By understanding the main languages used by your target market, you can then start to focus the linguistic targets of your campaign and work with a professional company to localise the translation, too.
It’s one thing adding lots of languages to a website or a marketing campaign, but if those languages aren’t relevant to your target market, they won’t have a positive impact on your project. By carefully choosing the right languages for your business content you’ll see a really positive response from your potential customers, especially if the translation and execution of the subtitles, voiceovers and copy is professional and accurate.
Remember, choosing the right language for your business content is important, but it’s equally important to communicate accurately and effectively in that language. Consider taking an online business language class to improve your language skills and ensure you can create quality content in the chosen language. This will help you connect better with your target audience and build a positive image for your brand.
Which Language Will You Choose?
Worldwide, there are many different languages that vary in their prevalence, popularity and ease when it comes to learning. If you are interested in learning a language, or utilising a language for business purposes, you’re in a good position. Being bilingual or multilingual is incredibly useful for your career, travels, brain health and more. Embracing language for business purposes is also highly beneficial because it allows you to smoothly Internationalise your business and translate your brand presence to overseas customers. The question is – which languages of the 7000 or more spoken worldwide are relevant to your goals?
Also, TEFL Jobs prepares you to teach English language skills, plan lessons for foreign language learners.
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