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Glottolog
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Glottolog is a bibliographic database of the world's lesser-known languages, developed and maintained first at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany (between 2015 and 2020 at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, Germany). Its main curators include Harald Hammarström and Martin Haspelmath.
| Producer | Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History (Germany) |
|---|---|
| Languages | English |
| Access | |
| Cost | Free |
| Coverage | |
| Disciplines | Linguistics |
| Links | |
| Website | glottolog |
Overview
Sebastian Nordhoff and Harald Hammarström created the Glottolog/Langdoc project in 2011.[1][2] The creation of Glottolog was partly motivated by the lack of a comprehensive language bibliography, especially in Ethnologue.[3]
Glottolog provides a catalogue of the world's languages and language families and a bibliography on the world's less-spoken languages. It differs from the similar catalogue Ethnologue in several respects:
- It tries to accept 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 which have been demonstrated to be valid.
- Bibliographic information is provided, especially for lesser-known languages.
- To a limited extent, alternative names are listed according to the sources which use them.
The language names used in the bibliographic entries are identified by ISO 639-3 code or Glottolog's own code (Glottocode); apart from a single point-location on a map at its geographic centre, no ethnographic or demographic information is provided. External links are provided to ISO, Ethnologue and other online language databases
The latest version is 4.7, released under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License in December 2022.
It is part of the Cross-Linguistic Linked Data project hosted by the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.[4]
Language families
Glottolog is more conservative in its classification than most online databases in establishing membership of languages and groups within families but more liberal in considering unclassified languages to be isolates. Edition 4.7 lists 421 oral-language[note 2] families and isolates as follows:[5]
| Name | Region[note 3] | Languages |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic-Congo | Africa | 1,408 |
| Austronesian | Africa, Eurasia, Oceania, South America | 1,273 |
| Indo-European | Africa, Australia, Eurasia, North America, Oceania, South America | 584 |
| Sino-Tibetan | Eurasia | 501 |
| Afro-Asiatic | Africa, Eurasia | 379 |
| Nuclear Trans New Guinea | Oceania | 317 |
| Pama-Nyungan | Australia, Oceania | 250 |
| Otomanguean | North America | 181 |
| Austroasiatic | Eurasia | 158 |
| Tai-Kadai | Eurasia | 95 |
| Dravidian | Eurasia | 82 |
| Arawakan | North America, South America | 77 |
| Mande | Africa | 75 |
| Tupian | South America | 71 |
| Uto-Aztecan | North America | 68 |
| Central Sudanic | Africa | 63 |
| Nilotic | Africa | 56 |
| Nuclear Torricelli | Oceania | 55 |
| Uralic | Eurasia | 48 |
| Algic | North America | 46 |
| Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit | North America | 46 |
| Pano-Tacanan | South America | 45 |
| Turkic | Eurasia | 44 |
| Quechuan | South America | 43 |
| Cariban | South America | 42 |
| Hmong-Mien | Eurasia | 39 |
| Kru | Africa | 38 |
| Sepik | Oceania | 36 |
| Mayan | North America | 34 |
| Nakh-Daghestanian | Eurasia | 34 |
| Lower Sepik-Ramu | Oceania | 30 |
| Nuclear-Macro-Je | South America | 30 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Tungusic | Eurasia | 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 |
| 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 |
| Western Tasmanian | Australia | 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 basic lexicon.
In addition to the families and isolates listed above, Glottolog uses several non-genealogical families for various languages:[6]
- Pidgins (84 languages)
- Mixed languages (9)
- Artificial languages (32)
- Speech registers (15)
- Sign languages (215, including 1 pidgin,[7] 4 auxiliary sign systems,[8] and 2 unclassified sign languages)[9]
- Unclassifiable attested languages (121)
- Unattested languages (68)
- Bookkeeping: spurious languages, such as retired ISO entries; kept for bookkeeping purposes (392 including 6 sign languages)[10]
Notes
- ^ See for example the bookkeeping section for ISO languages that Glottolog has deemed to be spurious distinctions.
This discrimination does not apply to dialects, many of which have been inherited from MultiTree or other sources without verification. - ^ Sign languages are listed together, including those grouped typologically as village sign languages, as are pidgins and unclassified languages, but without a claim that they are necessarily related.
- ^ Geographic regions include "Papunesia" (a portmanteau of Papua (New Guinea) and Austronesia), which refers to the islands of Insular Southeast Asia and Oceania, excluding Australia. Here it is replaced with 'Oceania'.
References
- ^ 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 4.7. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
- ^ 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". Retrieved 2020-02-22.
- ^ "Glottolog Families". glottolog.org. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
- ^ "Glottolog: About Languoids". glottolog.org. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
- ^ "Glottolog Language: Hawai'i Pidgin Sign Language". glottolog.org. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
- ^ "Glottolog Subfamily: Auxiliary Sign Systems". glottolog.org. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
- ^ "Glottolog Subfamily: Unclassified Deaf Sign Language". glottolog.org. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
- ^ "Glottolog Family: Bookkeeping". glottolog.org. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
External links
- Official website