The world may once have had tens of thousands of languages
Researchers estimate that 3,000 to 1,000 years ago the world had far more languages than today — perhaps tens of thousands, compared with about 7,500 now. They mixed language records, population history, and computer models to trace how many languages existed over time.
Why it matters
Most people think languages started dying only when European empires spread in recent centuries. This work suggests the great loss began much earlier, when the first large empires spread their armies, diseases, and their own tongues. If true, it changes how we understand human history and why so few languages survive. It is a model-based estimate, not a direct count, so the exact numbers stay uncertain.
Who's behind it: D. E. Blasi and colleagues, Includes researchers from Yale University and the Max Planck Institute.
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