Language isolate
An isolated language is a language in which no genetic relationship to any other language can be demonstrated. The only things stand at present still spoken isolated language of Europe is Basque.
This article gives an overview of the isolated languages of the world sorted by continent.
- 4.1 Isolated and unclassified Papuan
- 6.1 Isolated Languages
- 6.2 Unclassified African languages
- 6.3 Hybrid African languages (mixed languages)
- 6.4 Sometimes erroneously classified as isolated languages of Africa
- 7.1 North America
- 7.2 Central America
- 7.3 South America
Problems of the term
The seemingly simple definition of the term " isolated language " - a language that is genetically related to any other - is problematic:
- Problem of dialects and splittings. Also, isolated languages can naturally have dialects and these continue to evolve today or in the future to separate languages. It is often a matter of definition whether one speaks of a language with several dialects or more independent, closely related languages . This difference does not clearly definable then from a " isolated language" a small family of closely related languages.
- Problem of the extinct sister languages. The Ket ( a jenisseische language ) would have today, " isolated " as applicable, except as Ket no other Yenisey more language is spoken. For the past centuries, however, at least five now extinct sister languages are known, so the chain can not be considered in isolation, but is the only surviving member of the jenisseischen language family. Likewise, for example, could today as isolated applicable Sumerian ancient relatives have had, which, however - were fixed in writing - in contrast to the Sumerian.
The idea of " isolated languages " according to the above definition is thus rather unhistorical: in reality have or have had all the world's languages "relatives" who could not be determined only from a variety of reasons, for example because they died without the written fixation or because the research methods (still) are not sufficient to prove the relationship with other languages. In this context, the research on the large macro families that include several "classic" language families and "isolated languages " of particular interest. ( See also table Eurasia, Nostra table, Dene - Caucasian, Austrisch, Indo, Amerindian, and others). With the establishment of any major genetic linguistic unit reduces the number of " isolated languages ".
The following are the most today are "isolated" as considered languages with their numbers of speakers by continents and within the same listed alphabetically. Some attention is drawn to the reasons why they may not "isolated". Basis is the compilation of Ethnologue, the supplemented by additional knowledge of specialists and has been corrected where necessary.
Not to be confused with the " isolated languages " are the " unclassified languages ": these are either extinct and so weak narrated that a classification with the existing material is not possible, or still existent, but so far not explored enough to make them a to assign language family or by them to say with great certainty that they were " isolated ." Languages can also be unclassifiable, if they have the characteristics of two language families. Such languages are called hybrid or mixed languages . In practice, the difference between " isolated " and not very sharp, so that here also some unclassified languages are " unclassified " section.
Ethnologue as a problematic source
For almost all of these partially known only to experts insulated languages can be found in Ethnologue information on the ethno- linguistic situation, numbers of speakers and their geographical distribution. However, the classification in Ethnologue is not always compatible with the basis here, so some here as isolated designated language is there assigned to a language family. Conversely, some in Ethnologue be isolated as described herein languages a language family assigned, eg Tinigua, Puelche and others. In addition, some name confusion lead to erroneous Ethnologue classifications and assessments. If in doubt, always the current primary sources to use for the individual language families or areal linguistic groups.
Eurasia
Isolated Languages of Eurasia
The languages of Eurasia are considered isolated from the majority of researchers today:
Unclassified living languages of Eurasia
These languages are listed in Ethnologue as " unclassified " because they were so far not explored, or not enough to make them genetically classified can. It is unlikely that it is "isolated" languages.
Unclassified extinct languages of Eurasia with readable fonts
The extinct Old European and Oriental languages in this list have been able to be assigned to a group of languages , since they are only very sparsely preserved and documented. Whether it is isolated languages , is not conclusively clarified.
Unclassified extinct languages of Eurasia in a hitherto undeciphered writings
The languages in this list can be assigned to any language group, because their writings have not yet been deciphered. So it is actually hypothetical languages.
Often misdiagnosed as isolated classified languages of Eurasia
Indo-Pacific
For the Indo-Pacific region include the Austronesian and the so-called Papuan languages. While the Austronesian languages form a clearly identifiable genetic unit - there is little doubt as to whether a particular language is Austronesian or not - the genetic situation of the Papuan is very complex. Of the non- Austronesian and non- Australian languages of New Guinea and some neighboring islands (ie, the so-called Papuan languages) are some isolated in the sense that they are not "family" ( even if it is only a two-member ) can be assigned. There are also some little explored hitherto unclassified Papua languages that could well belong to one of about ten Papuan language families.
Isolated and unclassified Papuan
Australia
According to new findings one of the best connoisseurs of these languages , RMW Dixon (see bibliography ), the genetic unity of the Australian languages can not be established, since the phase of a possible unity dates back too far ( at least 20,000 years). In particular, the genetic unity of the largest group of Australian languages , the Pama - Nyunga languages, abandoned by Dixon. There are according to this model, various minor genetic and areal units, many languages remain "isolated". Here are only the surviving " isolated languages " listed, they include the speaker 's richest languages of Australia. A total of only 40,000 persons of Aboriginal peoples speak one of about 80 indigenous languages , before colonization, there were at least 350 languages.
In addition, should a number of extinct or nearly extinct languages of Australia as isolated or unclassified apply. See the external link " The classification of Australian languages ".
Africa
According to J. Greenberg's now probably the undisputed power of an overall classification of African languages in the four major phyla Afro-Asiatic, Niger - Congo, Nilo-Saharan and Khoisan ( final version published in 1963 ) was initially no African language "isolated" because they belonged to any one of the four phyla.
Some Africanists are, however, convinced that Khoisan and Nilo-Saharan language families are not in the strict sense, but only to groups of languages that are similar typological and areal form a Sprachbund. (. Details on this topic in the article African languages) are So while certain languages by some experts to the Nilo-Saharan phyla or Khoisan expected, they are - if no closer relatives are visible - from other "isolated" or " unclassified " considered. In addition, there are a series of African and unlabeled hybrid languages (mixed languages).
Isolated Languages
The following languages are now seen as isolated, earlier they were added to the Khoisan languages ( so still in Ethnologue ):
Unclassified African languages
The following languages are probably at one of the great African phyla, a reliable assignment was not possible up to now:
Hybrid African languages (mixed languages)
The following languages have features from different language families:
Sometimes erroneously classified as isolated languages of Africa
America
Here are listed only the living languages . A complete overview of the current state of knowledge - including the extinct, but somehow surviving languages - enter the listed links " Classification of North, Meso and South American languages " and the article language families of the world. When J. Greenberg with his classification of American languages in just three genetic units - Na - Dene, Eskimo - Aleut and Amerind - were right, there would be no isolated American languages . This presentation is based on the now generally accepted genetic groups in America, it is entirely repeatedly attempts are made to detect larger units in which then listed here, " isolated" can rise languages. After today's majority opinion of the researchers is America (especially South America), the continent with the most - some quite large - isolated languages.
North America
Note: The groups Hokan languages and Penutian languages are not considered here as genetic units. (See L. Campbell, American Indian Languages (1997) and various other current sources. )