Glottologis anopen-accessonlinebibliographic databaseof the world's languages. In addition to listing linguistic materials (grammars,articles,dictionaries) describing individual languages, the database also contains the most up-to-datelanguage affiliationsbased on the work of expertlinguists.
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Producer | Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History(Germany) |
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Languages | English |
Access | |
Cost | Free |
Coverage | |
Disciplines | Linguistics |
Links | |
Website | glottolog |
Glottolog was first developed and maintained at theMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyinLeipzig,Germany, and between 2015 and 2020 at theMax Planck Institute for the Science of Human HistoryinJena,Germany). Its main curators includeHarald HammarströmandMartin Haspelmath.
Overview
editSebastian Nordhoff and Harald Hammarström established the Glottolog/Langdoc project in 2011.[1][2]The creation ofGlottologwas partly motivated by the lack of a comprehensive language bibliography, especially inEthnologue.[3]
Glottolog provides a catalogue of the world's languages and language families and a bibliography on individual languages. It differs fromEthnologuein several respects:
- It includes only those languages that the editors have been able to confirm both exist and are distinct. Varieties that have not been confirmed, but are inherited from another source, are tagged as "spurious"or"unattested".[note 1]
- It attempts only to classify languages into families demonstrated to bevalid groupingsbased on research by linguists specializing in them.
- Comprehensive bibliographic information is provided, especially for lesser-known or underdescribed languages.
- To a limited extent,alternative namesare listed according to the sources that use them.
- Apart from a single point-location on a map at its geographic centre, noethnographicordemographicinformation is provided.
Language names used in the bibliographic entries are identified byISO 639-3code or Glottolog's own code (Glottocode). External links are provided to ISO,Ethnologueand other online language databases
The latest version is 5.0, released under theCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licensein 2024.
It is part of theCross-Linguistic Linked Dataproject hosted by theMax Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.[4]
Language families
editGlottologis more conservative in its classification than other databases in establishing membership of languages and families given its strict criteria for postulating larger groupings. On the other hand, the database is more permissive in terms of considering unclassified languages asisolates.Edition 4.8 lists 421spoken language[note 2]families and isolates as follows:[5]
Name | Region[note 3] | Languages |
---|---|---|
Atlantic-Congo | Africa | 1,410 |
Austronesian | Africa, Eurasia, Oceania, South America | 1,272 |
Indo-European | Africa, Australia, Eurasia, North America, Oceania, South America | 585 |
Sino-Tibetan | Eurasia | 506 |
Afro-Asiatic | Africa, Eurasia | 382 |
Nuclear Trans New Guinea | Oceania | 317 |
Pama-Nyungan | Australia, Oceania | 250 |
Otomanguean | North America | 181 |
Austroasiatic | Eurasia | 158 |
Tai-Kadai | Eurasia | 96 |
Dravidian | Eurasia | 82 |
Arawakan | North America, South America | 77 |
Mande | Africa | 75 |
Tupian | South America | 70 |
Uto-Aztecan | North America | 68 |
Central Sudanic | Africa | 63 |
Nilotic | Africa | 56 |
Nuclear Torricelli | Oceania | 55 |
Uralic | Eurasia | 49 |
Algic | North America | 47 |
Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | North America | 46 |
Pano-Tacanan | South America | 45 |
Quechuan | South America | 43 |
Turkic | Eurasia | 43 |
Cariban | South America | 42 |
Hmong-Mien | Eurasia | 42 |
Kru | Africa | 38 |
Nakh-Daghestanian | Eurasia | 36 |
Sepik | Oceania | 36 |
Mayan | North America | 34 |
Lower Sepik-Ramu | Oceania | 30 |
Nuclear-Macro-Je | South America | 29 |
Chibchan | North America, South America | 27 |
Tucanoan | South America | 26 |
Salishan | North America | 25 |
Timor-Alor-Pantar | Oceania | 23 |
Dogon | Africa | 20 |
Lakes Plain | Oceania | 20 |
Mixe-Zoque | North America | 19 |
Ta-Ne-Omotic | Africa | 19 |
Yam | Oceania | 19 |
Siouan | North America | 18 |
Anim | Oceania | 17 |
Japonic | Eurasia, Oceania | 17 |
Mongolic-Khitan | Eurasia | 17 |
Border | Oceania | 15 |
North Halmahera | Oceania | 15 |
Tungusic | Eurasia | 15 |
Khoe-Kwadi | Africa | 14 |
Angan | Oceania | 13 |
Eskimo-Aleut | Eurasia, North America | 13 |
Miwok-Costanoan | North America | 13 |
Ndu | Oceania | 13 |
Nubian | Africa | 13 |
Tor-Orya | Oceania | 13 |
Totonacan | North America | 13 |
Chapacuran | South America | 12 |
Gunwinyguan | Australia | 12 |
Cochimi-Yuman | North America | 11 |
Iroquoian | North America | 11 |
Sko | Oceania | 11 |
Surmic | Africa | 11 |
Western Daly | Australia | 11 |
Geelvink Bay | Oceania | 10 |
Great Andamanese | Eurasia, Oceania | 10 |
Heibanic | Africa | 10 |
Ijoid | Africa | 10 |
Maban | Africa | 10 |
Nyulnyulan | Australia | 10 |
Saharan | Africa | 10 |
Songhay | Africa | 10 |
South Bougainville | Oceania | 10 |
Worrorran | Australia | 10 |
Chocoan | South America | 9 |
Dagan | Oceania | 9 |
Tuu | Africa | 9 |
Greater Kwerba | Oceania | 8 |
Kiowa-Tanoan | North America | 8 |
Koiarian | Oceania | 8 |
Mailuan | Oceania | 8 |
Narrow Talodi | Africa | 8 |
Bosavi | Oceania | 7 |
Chukotko-Kamchatkan | Eurasia | 7 |
Dajuic | Africa | 7 |
Huitotoan | South America | 7 |
Matacoan | South America | 7 |
Muskogean | North America | 7 |
Pomoan | North America | 7 |
Arawan | South America | 6 |
Baining | Oceania | 6 |
Barbacoan | South America | 6 |
Chumashan | North America | 6 |
East Strickland | Oceania | 6 |
Kadugli-Krongo | Africa | 6 |
Kiwaian | Oceania | 6 |
Left May | Oceania | 6 |
Lengua-Mascoy | South America | 6 |
Nambiquaran | South America | 6 |
South Bird's Head Family | Oceania | 6 |
Wakashan | North America | 6 |
Yanomamic | South America | 6 |
Zaparoan | South America | 6 |
Abkhaz-Adyge | Eurasia | 5 |
Arafundi | Oceania | 5 |
Caddoan | North America | 5 |
Eleman | Oceania | 5 |
Guahiboan | South America | 5 |
Guaicuruan | South America | 5 |
Kartvelian | Eurasia | 5 |
Keram | Oceania | 5 |
Koman | Africa | 5 |
Kxa | Africa | 5 |
Mirndi | Australia | 5 |
Misumalpan | North America | 5 |
Nimboranic | Oceania | 5 |
Pauwasi | Oceania | 5 |
Sahaptian | North America | 5 |
South Omotic | Africa | 5 |
West Bird's Head | Oceania | 5 |
Xincan | North America | 5 |
Yareban | Oceania | 5 |
Yeniseian | Eurasia | 5 |
Yuat | Oceania | 5 |
Aymaran | South America | 4 |
Blue Nile Mao | Africa | 4 |
Chicham | South America | 4 |
Chinookan | North America | 4 |
Chonan | South America | 4 |
Eastern Jebel | Africa | 4 |
Eastern Trans-Fly | Oceania | 4 |
Huavean | North America | 4 |
Iwaidjan Proper | Australia | 4 |
Kamakanan | South America | 4 |
Kunimaipan | Oceania | 4 |
Maiduan | North America | 4 |
Mangarrayi-Maran | Australia | 4 |
Maningrida | Australia | 4 |
Naduhup | South America | 4 |
North Bougainville | Oceania | 4 |
Sentanic | Oceania | 4 |
Shastan | North America | 4 |
Suki-Gogodala | Oceania | 4 |
Tamaic | Africa | 4 |
Tangkic | Australia | 4 |
Turama-Kikori | Oceania | 4 |
Walioic | Oceania | 4 |
Yokutsan | North America | 4 |
Yukaghir | Eurasia | 4 |
Ainu | Eurasia | 3 |
Bororoan | South America | 3 |
Bulaka River | Oceania | 3 |
Charruan | South America | 3 |
Dizoid | Africa | 3 |
East Bird's Head | Oceania | 3 |
Giimbiyu | Australia | 3 |
Gumuz | Africa | 3 |
Jarrakan | Australia | 3 |
Kalapuyan | North America | 3 |
Kamula-Elevala | Oceania | 3 |
Katla-Tima | Africa | 3 |
Kawesqar | South America | 3 |
Kayagaric | Oceania | 3 |
Kolopom | Oceania | 3 |
Kresh-Aja | Africa | 3 |
Kuliak | Africa | 3 |
Kwalean | Oceania | 3 |
Lepki-Murkim-Kembra | Oceania | 3 |
Mairasic | Oceania | 3 |
Peba-Yagua | South America | 3 |
Saliban | South America | 3 |
Tequistlatecan | North America | 3 |
Tsimshian | North America | 3 |
West Bomberai | Oceania | 3 |
Western Tasmanian | Australia | 3 |
Yangmanic | Australia | 3 |
Zamucoan | South America | 3 |
Amto-Musan | Oceania | 2 |
Araucanian | South America | 2 |
Baibai-Fas | Oceania | 2 |
Bayono-Awbono | Oceania | 2 |
Bogia | Oceania | 2 |
Boran | South America | 2 |
Bunaban | Australia | 2 |
Cahuapanan | South America | 2 |
Chimakuan | North America | 2 |
Chiquitano | South America | 2 |
Coosan | North America | 2 |
Doso-Turumsa | Oceania | 2 |
East Kutubu | Oceania | 2 |
Eastern Daly | Australia | 2 |
Furan | Africa | 2 |
Garrwan | Australia | 2 |
Haida | North America | 2 |
Harakmbut | South America | 2 |
Hatam-Mansim | Oceania | 2 |
Hibito-Cholon | South America | 2 |
Huarpean | South America | 2 |
Hurro-Urartian | Eurasia | 2 |
Inanwatan | Oceania | 2 |
Jarawa-Onge | Eurasia | 2 |
Jicaquean | North America | 2 |
Kakua-Nukak | South America | 2 |
Katukinan | South America | 2 |
Kaure-Kosare | Oceania | 2 |
Keresan | North America | 2 |
Konda-Yahadian | Oceania | 2 |
Koreanic | Eurasia | 2 |
Kwomtari-Nai | Oceania | 2 |
Lencan | North America | 2 |
Limilngan-Wulna | Australia | 2 |
Manubaran | Oceania | 2 |
Marrku-Wurrugu | Australia | 2 |
Mombum-Koneraw | Oceania | 2 |
Namla-Tofanma | Oceania | 2 |
Nivkh | Eurasia | 2 |
North-Eastern Tasmanian | Australia | 2 |
Northern Daly | Australia | 2 |
Nyimang | Africa | 2 |
Otomaco-Taparita | South America | 2 |
Pahoturi | Oceania | 2 |
Palaihnihan | North America | 2 |
Piawi | Oceania | 2 |
Puri-Coroado | South America | 2 |
Rashad | Africa | 2 |
Senagi | Oceania | 2 |
Somahai | Oceania | 2 |
South-Eastern Tasmanian | Australia | 2 |
Southern Daly | Australia | 2 |
Tarascan | North America | 2 |
Taulil-Butam | Oceania | 2 |
Teberan | Oceania | 2 |
Temeinic | Africa | 2 |
Ticuna-Yuri | South America | 2 |
Uru-Chipaya | South America | 2 |
Wintuan | North America | 2 |
Yawa-Saweru | Oceania | 2 |
Yuki-Wappo | North America | 2 |
Abinomn | Oceania | 1 |
Abun | Oceania | 1 |
Adai | North America | 1 |
Aewa | South America | 1 |
Aikanã | South America | 1 |
Alsea-Yaquina | North America | 1 |
Andaqui | South America | 1 |
Andoque | South America | 1 |
Anem | Oceania | 1 |
Arutani | South America | 1 |
Asabano | Oceania | 1 |
Atacame | South America | 1 |
Atakapa | North America | 1 |
Bangime | Africa | 1 |
Basque | Eurasia | 1 |
Beothuk | North America | 1 |
Berta | Africa | 1 |
Betoi-Jirara | South America | 1 |
Bilua | Oceania | 1 |
Bogaya | Oceania | 1 |
Burmeso | Oceania | 1 |
Burushaski | Eurasia | 1 |
Camsá | South America | 1 |
Candoshi-Shapra | South America | 1 |
Canichana | South America | 1 |
Cayubaba | South America | 1 |
Cayuse | North America | 1 |
Chimariko | North America | 1 |
Chitimacha | North America | 1 |
Chono | South America | 1 |
Coahuilteco | North America | 1 |
Cofán | South America | 1 |
Comecrudan | North America | 1 |
Cotoname | North America | 1 |
Cuitlatec | North America | 1 |
Culli | South America | 1 |
Damal | Oceania | 1 |
Dem | Oceania | 1 |
Dibiyaso | Oceania | 1 |
Duna | Oceania | 1 |
Elamite | Eurasia | 1 |
Elseng | Oceania | 1 |
Esselen | North America | 1 |
Etruscan | Eurasia | 1 |
Fasu | Oceania | 1 |
Fulniô | South America | 1 |
Fuyug | Oceania | 1 |
Gaagudju | Australia | 1 |
Guachi | South America | 1 |
Guaicurian | North America | 1 |
Guamo | South America | 1 |
Guató | South America | 1 |
Gule | Africa | 1 |
Guriaso | Oceania | 1 |
Hadza | Africa | 1 |
Hattic | Eurasia | 1 |
Hoti | South America | 1 |
Hruso | Eurasia | 1 |
Iberian | Eurasia | 1 |
Irántxe-Münkü | South America | 1 |
Itonama | South America | 1 |
Jalaa | Africa | 1 |
Jirajaran | South America | 1 |
Kaki Ae | Oceania | 1 |
Kanoê | South America | 1 |
Kapori | Oceania | 1 |
Karami | Oceania | 1 |
Karankawa | North America | 1 |
Kariri | South America | 1 |
Karok | North America | 1 |
Kehu | Oceania | 1 |
Kenaboi | Eurasia | 1 |
Kibiri | Oceania | 1 |
Kimki | Oceania | 1 |
Klamath-Modoc | North America | 1 |
Kol (Papua New Guinea) | Oceania | 1 |
Kujarge | Africa | 1 |
Kunama | Africa | 1 |
Kungarakany | Australia | 1 |
Kunza | South America | 1 |
Kuot | Oceania | 1 |
Kusunda | Eurasia | 1 |
Kutenai | North America | 1 |
Kwaza | South America | 1 |
Laal | Africa | 1 |
Lafofa | Africa | 1 |
Laragia | Australia | 1 |
Lavukaleve | Oceania | 1 |
Leco | South America | 1 |
Lule | South America | 1 |
Máku | South America | 1 |
Maratino | North America | 1 |
Marori | Oceania | 1 |
Massep | Oceania | 1 |
Matanawí | South America | 1 |
Mato Grosso Arára | South America | 1 |
Mawes | Oceania | 1 |
Maybrat-Karon | Oceania | 1 |
Meroitic | Africa | 1 |
Mimi-Gaudefroy | Africa | 1 |
Minkin | Australia | 1 |
Mochica | South America | 1 |
Molale | North America | 1 |
Molof | Oceania | 1 |
Mor (Bomberai Peninsula) | Oceania | 1 |
Mosetén-Chimané | South America | 1 |
Movima | South America | 1 |
Mpur | Oceania | 1 |
Muniche | South America | 1 |
Mure | South America | 1 |
Nara | Africa | 1 |
Natchez | North America | 1 |
Nihali | Eurasia | 1 |
Odiai | Oceania | 1 |
Omurano | South America | 1 |
Ongota | Africa | 1 |
Oti | South America | 1 |
Oyster Bay-Big River-Little Swanport | Australia | 1 |
Páez | South America | 1 |
Pankararú | South America | 1 |
Papi | Oceania | 1 |
Pawaia | Oceania | 1 |
Payagua | South America | 1 |
Pele-Ata | Oceania | 1 |
Pirahã | South America | 1 |
Puelche | South America | 1 |
Puinave | South America | 1 |
Pumé | South America | 1 |
Puquina | South America | 1 |
Purari | Oceania | 1 |
Pyu | Oceania | 1 |
Ramanos | South America | 1 |
Salinan | North America | 1 |
Sandawe | Africa | 1 |
Sapé | South America | 1 |
Sause | Oceania | 1 |
Savosavo | Oceania | 1 |
Sechuran | South America | 1 |
Seri | North America | 1 |
Shabo | Africa | 1 |
Shom Peng | Eurasia | 1 |
Siamou | Africa | 1 |
Siuslaw | North America | 1 |
Sulka | Oceania | 1 |
Sumerian | Eurasia | 1 |
Tabo | Oceania | 1 |
Taiap | Oceania | 1 |
Takelma | North America | 1 |
Tallán | South America | 1 |
Tambora | Oceania | 1 |
Tanahmerah | Oceania | 1 |
Taruma | South America | 1 |
Tauade | Oceania | 1 |
Taushiro | South America | 1 |
Timote-Cuica | South America | 1 |
Timucua | North America | 1 |
Tinigua | South America | 1 |
Tiwi | Australia | 1 |
Tonkawa | North America | 1 |
Touo | Oceania | 1 |
Trumai | South America | 1 |
Tunica | North America | 1 |
Tuxá | South America | 1 |
Umbugarla | Australia | 1 |
Urarina | South America | 1 |
Usku | Oceania | 1 |
Vilela | South America | 1 |
Wadjiginy | Australia | 1 |
Wageman | Australia | 1 |
Waorani | South America | 1 |
Warao | South America | 1 |
Washo | North America | 1 |
Wiru | Oceania | 1 |
Xukurú | South America | 1 |
Yale | Oceania | 1 |
Yámana | South America | 1 |
Yana | North America | 1 |
Yele | Oceania | 1 |
Yerakai | Oceania | 1 |
Yetfa | Oceania | 1 |
Yuchi | North America | 1 |
Yuracaré | South America | 1 |
Yurumanguí | South America | 1 |
Zuni | North America | 1 |
Creoles are classified with the language that supplied their basiclexicon.
In addition to the families and isolates listed above,Glottologuses several non-genealogical families for various languages:[6]
- Pidgins(84 languages)
- Mixed languages(9)
- Artificial languages(31)
- Speech registers(15)
- Sign languages(223)[7]
- Unclassifiable attested languages (121)
- Unattested languages(68)
- Bookkeeping: spurious languages, such as retired ISO entries; kept for bookkeeping purposes (390 including 6 sign languages)[8]
Notes
edit- ^See for example thebookkeepingsection for ISO languages thatGlottologhas deemed to be spurious distinctions.
This discrimination does not apply to dialects, many of which have been inherited fromMultiTreeor other sources without verification. - ^Sign languages are listed together, including those grouped typologically asvillage sign languages,as are pidgins and unclassified languages, but without a claim that they are necessarily related.
- ^Geographic regions include "Papunesia" (a portmanteau ofPapua(New Guinea) andAustronesia), which refers to the islands of Insular Southeast Asia and Oceania, excluding Australia. Here it is replaced with 'Oceania'.
References
edit- ^Nordhoff, Sebastian; Hammarström, Harald (May 2012)."Glottolog/Langdoc:Increasing the visibility of grey literature for low-density languages"(PDF).Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC'12).Istanbul: European Language Resources Association (ELRA): 3289–3294.
- ^"About".Glottolog 4.8.Retrieved2023-07-10.
- ^Hammarström, Harald (2015). Kuzmin, E. (ed.)."Glottolog: A Free, Online, Comprehensive Bibliography of the World's Languages".Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in Cyberspace:183–188.
- ^"Cross-Linguistic Linked Data".Retrieved2020-02-22.
- ^"Glottolog Families".glottolog.org.Retrieved2022-12-07.
- ^"Glottolog: About Languoids".glottolog.org.Retrieved2019-01-27.
- ^"Pseudo Family: Sign Language".glottolog.org.Retrieved2023-07-10.
- ^"Glottolog Family: Bookkeeping".glottolog.org.Retrieved2023-07-10.