News:

The default theme for this site has been updated. For further information, please take a look at the announcement regarding HAF changing its default theme.

Main Menu

Beautiful Linguistic Family Tree

Started by xSilverPhinx, April 02, 2018, 01:30:00 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

xSilverPhinx

I am what survives if it's slain - Zack Hemsey


Dave

A lovely representation!

Though the Uralic group has its own isolated sprouting I can't seem to find the Semetic language group; Hebrew, Arabic, Aramaic, Maltese etc. It also seems to leave out the far eastern languages and original American ones (N and S).

Languages by native speakers (English gets a lot bigger if you include 2nd and 3rd languages).


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_languages_by_number_of_native_speakers
Tomorrow is precious, don't ruin it by fouling up today.
Passed Monday 10th Dec 2018 age 74

xSilverPhinx

Yes, that's true. There are so many languages that many are bound to be left out. However, "A comprehensive overlook of the Nordic languages in their old world language families" is written on the map so maybe that excludes those language families? :notsure: 
I am what survives if it's slain - Zack Hemsey


Dave

Yup, you can't include every language from small fishing groups on a Pacific Island or remote Siberian tribe. And cell phones and the Internet are actually reducing the number if languages, a satphone can give remote villagers communication with the capital - providing they speak the same language as those in the capital! That's why English is the official lingua franca in the many languaged India.

From my college research paper (2005), referencing a 1997 book by a language expert called Graddol, it seems that there were 36 languages, with names starting with the letter 'A', at risk of extinction in Indonesia alone!  Another language guru, David Crystal, claimed that at least half of the world's 6000+ languages will die out in the next 100 years.

Nice re-reading those old papers from 12 years ago, really enjoyed that aspect of the course. Hated having to read 19thC literature but enjoyed Shakespeare . . .
Tomorrow is precious, don't ruin it by fouling up today.
Passed Monday 10th Dec 2018 age 74

xSilverPhinx

Quote from: Dave on April 02, 2018, 03:26:24 PM
From my college research paper (2005), referencing a 1997 book by a language expert called Graddol, it seems that there were 36 languages, with names starting with the letter 'A', at risk of extinction in Indonesia alone!  Another language guru, David Crystal, claimed that at least half of the world's 6000+ languages will die out in the next 100 years.

That's so sad! But I guess it's like species' evolution, many lines die out...some branches are shorter than others.
I am what survives if it's slain - Zack Hemsey


OldGit

Dave, this represents only the Indo-European family, so you won't find the Semitic languages.

It's a beautiful piece of art and is adequate to give the layman an idea of what went on.  However even the specialists don't agree as to where and when these splits took place.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-European_languages

Dave

Quote from: OldGit on April 03, 2018, 10:09:31 AM
Dave, this represents only the Indo-European family, so you won't find the Semitic languages.

It's a beautiful piece of art and is adequate to give the layman an idea of what went on.  However even the specialists don't agree as to where and when these splits took place.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-European_languages
Welll, the title is "Old World Language Families", are the semetic and other languages too young? If the title was "Indo-European Language Families" I would concede the point happily.

In the case of publicly published documents this is not just pedantry, inaccurate knowledge communication can be as "dangerous" as none at all.
Tomorrow is precious, don't ruin it by fouling up today.
Passed Monday 10th Dec 2018 age 74

Sandra Craft

Lovely, and there are cats involved.  I approve heartily.
Sandy

  

"Life is short, and it is up to you to make it sweet."  Sarah Louise Delany

Dragonia

Yes, I've just gotten around to looking at this and it is very interesting. I don't even recognize the names of half of these languages! Oriya? Mahasui?
Fun to look at though!
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. ~ Plato (?)

xSilverPhinx

I am what survives if it's slain - Zack Hemsey


Dave

Tomorrow is precious, don't ruin it by fouling up today.
Passed Monday 10th Dec 2018 age 74