Languages of Asia: Difference between revisions

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{{more citations needed|date=December 2016}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2016}}
[[File:Language families of modern Asia.png|thumb|400px|The Language families of Asia]]
[[File:Language families of modern Asia.png|thumb|400px|The Language families of Asia]]
[[Asia]] is home to hundreds of languages comprising several families and some unrelated isolates. The most spoken language families on the continent include [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic]], [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]], [[Japonic languages|Japonic]], [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]], [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]], [[Afroasiatic languages|Afroasiatic]], [[Turkic languages|Turkic]], [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]], [[Kra–Dai languages|Kra–Dai]] and [[Koreanic]]. Many '''languages of Asia''', such as [[Old Chinese|Chinese]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Arabic]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]] or [[Telugu language|Telugu]], have a long history as a written language.
[[Asia]] is home to hundreds of languages comprising several families and some unrelated isolates. The most spoken language families on the continent include [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic]], [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]], [[Japonic languages|Japonic]], [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]], [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]], [[Afroasiatic languages|Afroasiatic]], [[Turkic languages|Turkic]], [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]], [[Kra–Dai languages|Kra–Dai]] and [[Koreanic]]. Many '''languages of Asia''', such as [[Old Chinese|Chinese]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Arabic]] or [[Tamil language|Tamil]] have a long history as a written language.


==Language groups==
==Language groups==
[[File:Ethnolinguisticswasiacia.jpg|thumb|300px|Ethnolinguistic distribution in Central/Southwest Asia of the [[Altaic languages|Altaic]], [[Caucasian languages|Caucasian]], [[Afroasiatic languages|Afroasiatic]] (Hamito-Semitic) and [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] families.]]
[[File:Ethnolinguisticswasiacia.jpg|thumb|300px|Ethnolinguistic distribution in Central/Southwest Asia of the [[Altaic languages|Altaic]], [[Caucasian languages|Caucasian]], [[Afroasiatic languages|Afroasiatic]] (Hamito-Semitic) and [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] families.]]


The major families in terms of numbers are [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]], specifically [[Indo-Aryan languages]] and [[Dravidian languages]] in [[South Asia]]; and [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] in [[East Asia]]. Several other families are regionally dominant.
The major families in terms of numbers are [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]], specifically [[Indo-Aryan languages]] and [[Dravidian languages]] in [[South Asia]], [[Persian language|Iranian languages]] in parts of [[West Asia|West]], [[Central Asia|Central]], and [[South Asia]], and [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] in [[East Asia]]. Several other families are regionally dominant.


===Sino-Tibetan===
===Sino-Tibetan===
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===Indo-European===
===Indo-European===
{{Main|Indo-European languages}}
{{Main|Indo-European languages}}
The [[Indo-European languages]] are primarily represented in Asia by the [[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian branch]], with its two main subgroups: [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]] and [[Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]].
The [[Indo-European languages]] are primarily represented in Asia by the [[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian branch]], with its two main subgroups: [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]] and [[Iranian languages|Iranian]].


Indo-Aryan languages are mainly spoken in South Asia. Examples include languages such as [[Hindustani language|Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu)]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Rajasthani language|Rajasthani]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]],  [[Sylheti language|Sylheti]] etc.<!--this is deliberately a very short list: includes only languages with > 50 million speakers-->)
==== Indo-Aryan ====
Indo-Aryan languages are mainly spoken in the [[Indian subcontinent]], across different modern-day [[South Asia]]n countries. Examples include languages such as [[Hindustani language|Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu)]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Rajasthani language|Rajasthani]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]],  [[Sylheti language|Sylheti]],  [[Noakhali language|Noakhali]] etc.<!--this is deliberately a very short list: includes only languages with > 50 million speakers-->


[[Iranian languages|Iranic]] languages are mainly spoken in [[Iran]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Pakistan]] and neighboring regions. Examples include languages like [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Kurdish languages|Kurdish]], [[Pashto]] and [[Balochi language|Balochi]] which are spoken in
==== Iranic ====
[[Iranian languages|Iranic]] languages are mainly spoken in and around the [[Iranian Plateau]], spread across the modern-day countries of [[Iran]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Tajikistan]], and [[Pakistan]] and neighboring regions. Examples include languages like [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Kurdish languages|Kurdish]], [[Pashto]] and [[Balochi language|Balochi]].


In addition, other branches of Indo-European spoken in Asia include the [[Slavic languages|Slavic]] branch, which includes [[Russian language|Russian]] in [[Siberia]]; [[Greek language|Greek]] around the [[Black Sea]]; and [[Armenian language|Armenian]]; as well as extinct languages such as [[Hittite language|Hittite]] of Anatolia and [[Tocharian language|Tocharian]] of (Chinese) Turkestan.
==== Others ====
Other branches of Indo-European spoken in Asia include the [[Slavic languages|Slavic]] branch (due to Asia's proximity to [[Eastern Europe]]), which includes [[Russian language|Russian]] in [[Siberia]] (since it falls under the [[Russian Federation]]); [[Greek language|Greek]] around the [[Black Sea]]; and [[Armenian language|Armenian]] in [[Armenia]]; as well as extinct languages such as [[Hittite language|Hittite]] of Anatolia and [[Tocharian language|Tocharian]] of (Chinese) Turkestan.


===Altaic families===
===Altaic families===
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!Official status in a country
!Official status in a country
!Official status in a region
!Official status in a region
|-
| [[Saraiki language|Saraiki]]|| سرائیکی || 28,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]]|| ||[[Saraikistan]]
|-
|-
| [[Altai language|Altai]] || Алтай тил || 57,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || || [[Russia]]
| [[Altai language|Altai]] || Алтай тил || 57,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || || [[Russia]]
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| [[Armenian language|Armenian]] || {{lang|hy|հայերեն}} || 5,902,970  || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Armenia]]||
| [[Armenian language|Armenian]] || {{lang|hy|հայերեն}} || 5,902,970  || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Armenia]]||
|-
|-
| [[Assamese language|Assamese]] || {{lang|as|অসমীয়া}}|| 15,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || ||[[India]]  
| [[Assamese language|Assamese]] || {{lang|as|অসমীয়া}}|| 15,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[India]] (Scheduled)  ||[[India]]  
*[[Assam]]
*[[Assam]]
|-
|-
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* [[Gilgit Baltistan]]
* [[Gilgit Baltistan]]
|-  
|-  
| [[Bengali language|Bengali]] || {{lang|bn|বাংলা}} || 230,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Bangladesh]] || |[[India]]  
| [[Bengali language|Bengali]] || {{lang|bn|বাংলা}} || 230,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Bangladesh]], [[India]] (Scheduled)  || |[[India]]  
*[[Barak Valley]], [[Assam]] (''Additional'')
*[[Barak Valley]], [[Assam]] (''Additional'')
*[[Jharkhand]] (''Recognised'')
*[[Jharkhand]] (''Recognised'')
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*[[West Bengal]]
*[[West Bengal]]
|-
|-
| [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] ||भोजपुरी || 50,579,447 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Nepal]], [[India]]|| [[Nepal]]
| [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] ||भोजपुरी || 50,579,447 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Nepal]]|| [[Nepal]]
* [[Madhesh|Province 2]], [[Parsa District|Parsa]], Bara
* [[Madhesh Province|Province 2]], [[Parsa District|Parsa]], Bara
 
[[India]]
[[India]]
* [[Jharkhand]] (Additional)


* [[Jharkhand]]
* [[Bihar]]
* Uttar Pradesh
|-
|-
| [[Central Bikol language|Bikol]] || Bikol<br>Bikol Naga || 4,300,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || |[[Philippines]]  
| [[Central Bikol language|Bikol]] || Bikol<br>Bikol Naga || 4,300,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || |[[Philippines]]  
*[[Bicol Region]]
*[[Bicol Region]]
|-
|-
| [[Bodo language|Bodo]] || बर'/बड़<br>Boro || 1,984,569 || [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || |[[Nepal]]
| [[Bodo language|Bodo]] || बर'/बड़<br>Boro || 1,984,569 || [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || [[India]] (Scheduled)  || |[[Nepal]]
[[India]]  
[[India]]  
*[[Bodoland]], [[Assam]]
*[[Bodoland]], [[Assam]]
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| [[Burmese language|Burmese]] || {{lang|my|မြန်မာဘာသာ}} || 33,000,000|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || [[Myanmar]] ||
| [[Burmese language|Burmese]] || {{lang|my|မြန်မာဘာသာ}} || 33,000,000|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || [[Myanmar]] ||
|-
|-
| [[Cantonese|Cantonese (Yue) Language]] || {{zh|廣東話/广东话|labels=no}} || 110,000,000|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || [[China]]
| [[Cantonese|Cantonese (Yue) Language]] || {{zh|廣東話/广东话|labels=no}} || 110,000,000|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] ||[[Hong Kong]]
*[[Hong Kong]]
[[Macau]]  
*[[Macau]]
||
|-
|-
| [[Buryat language|Buryat]] || Буряад хэлэн<br>{{MongolUnicode|ᠪᠤᠷᠢᠶᠠᠳ<br>ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ<br>ᠬᠡᠯᠡᠨ}} || 440,000 || [[Mongolic languages|Mongolic]] || || [[Russia]]
| [[Buryat language|Buryat]] || Буряад хэлэн<br>{{MongolUnicode|ᠪᠤᠷᠢᠶᠠᠳ<br>ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ<br>ᠬᠡᠯᠡᠨ}} || 440,000 || [[Mongolic languages|Mongolic]] || || [[Russia]]
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|-
|-
| [[Maldivian language|Dhivehi]] || {{lang|dv|ދިވެހިބަސް}} || 400,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Maldives]] ||
| [[Maldivian language|Dhivehi]] || {{lang|dv|ދިވެހިބަސް}} || 400,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Maldives]] ||
|-
| [[Dogri language|Dogri]] || डोगरी || 2,600,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[India]] (Scheduled) ||  [[India]]
*[[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
|-
|-
| [[Dzongkha]] || {{lang|dz|རྫོང་ཁ་}} || 600,000 || [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || [[Bhutan]] ||
| [[Dzongkha]] || {{lang|dz|རྫོང་ཁ་}} || 600,000 || [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || [[Bhutan]] ||
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| [[Georgian language|Georgian]] || {{lang|ka|ქართული}} || 4,200,000 || [[Kartvelian languages|Kartvelian]] || [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] ||
| [[Georgian language|Georgian]] || {{lang|ka|ქართული}} || 4,200,000 || [[Kartvelian languages|Kartvelian]] || [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] ||
|-
|-
| [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] || ગુજરાતી || 50,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || || |[[India]]
| [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] || ગુજરાતી || 50,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[India]] (Scheduled) || |[[India]]
*[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]
*[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]
*[[Gujarat]]
*[[Gujarat]]
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| [[Modern Hebrew|Hebrew]] || {{lang|he|עברית}} || 7,000,000 || [[Afro-Asiatic]] || [[Israel]] ||
| [[Modern Hebrew|Hebrew]] || {{lang|he|עברית}} || 7,000,000 || [[Afro-Asiatic]] || [[Israel]] ||
|-
|-
| [[Hindi]] || हिन्दी || 615,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] ||[[India]]||
| [[Hindi]] || हिन्दी || 615,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] ||[[India]] (Scheduled) || [[India]]
* [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
* [[Bihar]]
* [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]
* [[Chhattisgarh]]
* [[Delhi]]
* [[Gujarat]]
* [[Haryana]]
* [[Himachal Pradesh]]
* [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory) | Jammu and Kashmir]]
* [[Jharkhand]]
* [[Ladakh]]
* [[Madhya Pradesh]]
* [[Rajasthan]]
* [[Uttar Pradesh]]
* [[Uttarakhand]]
* [[West Bengal]] (Additional)
 
|-
|-
| [[Hiligaynon language|Hiligaynon]] || Hiligaynon<br>Ilonggo<br>Hiniligaynon/Inilonggo || 9,100,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || |[[Philippines]]
| [[Hiligaynon language|Hiligaynon]] || Hiligaynon<br>Ilonggo<br>Hiniligaynon/Inilonggo || 9,100,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || |[[Philippines]]
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*[[Central Luzon]]
*[[Central Luzon]]
|-
|-
| [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] || Bahasa Indonesia || 270,000,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || [[Indonesia]] <br> [[Timor Leste]] (''Working languages'') ||
| [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] || Bahasa Indonesia || 270,000,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || [[Indonesia]] <br> [[Timor-Leste]] (''Working languages'') ||
|-
|-
| [[Japanese language|Japanese]] || {{lang|ja|日本語}} || 120,000,000 || [[Japonic]] || [[Japan]] (''de facto'')  ||
| [[Japanese language|Japanese]] || {{lang|ja|日本語}} || 120,000,000 || [[Japonic]] || [[Japan]] (''de facto'')  ||
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*[[Kachin State]]
*[[Kachin State]]
|-
|-
| [[Kannada]] || ಕನ್ನಡ || 51,000,000|| [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] || || [[India]]  
| [[Kannada]] || ಕನ್ನಡ || 51,000,000|| [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] ||[[India]] (Scheduled)
|| [[India]]  
*[[Karnataka]]
*[[Karnataka]]
|-
|-
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|7,000,000
|7,000,000
|[[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]]
|[[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]]
|
| [[India]] (Scheduled)
|[[India]]
|[[India]]
*[[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
*[[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
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| [[Khmer language|Khmer]] || {{lang|km|ភាសាខ្មែរ}} || 16,000,000 || [[Austroasiatic]] || [[Cambodia]] ||
| [[Khmer language|Khmer]] || {{lang|km|ភាសាខ្មែរ}} || 16,000,000 || [[Austroasiatic]] || [[Cambodia]] ||
|-
|-
| [[Konkani language|Konkani]] || {{lang|kok|कोंकणी<br>ಕೊಂಕಣಿ}} || 2,300,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || || [[India]]
| [[Konkani language|Konkani]] || {{lang|kok|कोंकणी<br>ಕೊಂಕಣಿ}} || 2,300,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[India]] (Scheduled)  || [[India]]
*[[Goa]]
*[[Goa]]
*[[Maharashtra]] (''Recognized'')
*[[Maharashtra]] (''Recognized'')
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*Malay language in Indonesia is considered a regional language (''bahasa daerah''), on part with regional languages spoken in the regions of [[Sumatra]] and [[Kalimantan]]
*Malay language in Indonesia is considered a regional language (''bahasa daerah''), on part with regional languages spoken in the regions of [[Sumatra]] and [[Kalimantan]]
|-
|-
| [[Malayalam]] || മലയാളം || 37,000,000 ||[[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] || || [[India]]
| [[Malayalam]] || മലയാളം || 37,000,000 ||[[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] || [[India]] (Scheduled)  || [[India]]
*[[Kerala]]
*[[Kerala]]
*[[Lakshadweep]]
*[[Lakshadweep]]
*[[Mahé, India|Mahé]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
*[[Mahé, India|Mahé]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
|-
|-
| [[Marathi language|Marathi]] || मराठी || 99,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || || [[India]]
| [[Marathi language|Marathi]] || मराठी || 99,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[India]] (Scheduled)  || [[India]]
*[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]
*[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]
*[[Goa]]
*[[Goa]]
*[[Maharashtra]]
*[[Maharashtra]]
|-
|-
| [[Maithili language|Maithili]] ||मैथिली || 34,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || ||
| [[Maithili language|Maithili]] ||मैथिली || 34,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[India]] (Scheduled)  ||
[[Nepal]]
[[Nepal]]
*[[Madhesh Province]]
*[[Madhesh Province]]
Line 327: Line 347:
*[[Jharkhand]]
*[[Jharkhand]]
|-
|-
| [[Meitei language|Meitei]] || ꯃꯤꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ<br>মৈতৈ<br>Manipuri || 2,000,000 || [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || |[[India]]
| [[Meitei language|Meitei]] || ꯃꯤꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ<br>মৈতৈ<br>Manipuri || 2,000,000 || [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] ||   || |[[India]]
*[[Manipur]]
*[[Manipur]]
|-
| [[Mizo language|Mizo]] || Mizo || 1,000,000 || [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] ||  [[India]] (Scheduled)  || |[[India]]
*[[Mizoram]]
|-
|-
| [[Mon language|Mon]] || {{lang|my|ဘာသာ မန်}} || 851,000 || [[Austroasiatic]] || || [[Myanmar]]
| [[Mon language|Mon]] || {{lang|my|ဘာသာ မန်}} || 851,000 || [[Austroasiatic]] || || [[Myanmar]]
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*[[Jharkhand]] (''Additional'')
*[[Jharkhand]] (''Additional'')
|-
|-
| [[Nepali language|Nepali]] || नेपाली || 29,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Nepal]] || [[India]]
| [[Nepali language|Nepali]] || नेपाली || 29,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Nepal]], [[India]] (Scheduled)  || [[India]]
*[[Darjeeling district|Darjeeling]], [[West Bengal]] (''Additional'')
*[[Darjeeling district|Darjeeling]], [[West Bengal]] (''Additional'')
*[[Sikkim]]
*[[Sikkim]]
|-
|-
| [[Odia language|Odia]] || ଓଡ଼ିଆ || 35,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || || [[India]]  
| [[Odia language|Odia]] || ଓଡ଼ିଆ || 35,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[India]] (Scheduled)  || [[India]]  
*[[Odisha]]  
*[[Odisha]]  
*[[Jharkhand]] (''Recognised'')
*[[Jharkhand]] (''Recognised'')
Line 363: Line 386:
| [[Persian language|Persian]] || {{lang|fa|فارسی}}|| 130,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Iran]] ||
| [[Persian language|Persian]] || {{lang|fa|فارسی}}|| 130,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Iran]] ||
|-
|-
| [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] || ਪੰਜਾਬੀ<br>{{nq|پن٘جابی}}  || 113,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[India]]|| [[India]]
| [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] || ਪੰਜਾਬੀ<br>{{nq|پن٘جابی}}  || 113,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[India]] (Scheduled)|| [[India]]
*[[Delhi]] (''Additional'')
*[[Delhi]] (''Additional'')
*[[Haryana]] (''Additional'')
*[[Haryana]] (''Additional'')
*[[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
*[[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
*[[West Bengal]] (''Additional'')
*[[West Bengal]] (''Additional'')
[[Pakistan]]
*[[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]]
|-
|-
| [[Arakanese language|Rakhine]] || {{lang|my|ရခိုင်ဘာသာ}} || 1,000,000|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || [[Myanmar]]
| [[Arakanese language|Rakhine]] || {{lang|my|ရခိုင်ဘာသာ}} || 1,000,000|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || [[Myanmar]]
Line 382: Line 403:
|  
|  
|-
|-
| [[Santali language|Santali]] || ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ || 7,600,000 || [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic]] || || [[India]]
| [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]] || संस्कृतम् || 3,210,000 <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20250212162525/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10262 Census 2011, Table C-17: Population by bilingualism and trilingualism, India]</ref> || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[India]] (Scheduled)  || [[India]]
*[[Uttarakhand]] (''Additional'')
*[[Himachal Pradesh]] (''Additional'')
|-
| [[Santali language|Santali]] || ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ || 7,600,000 || [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic]] || [[India]] (Scheduled)  || [[India]]
*[[West Bengal]] (''Additional'')
*[[West Bengal]] (''Additional'')
*[[Jharkhand]]
*[[Jharkhand]]
Line 390: Line 415:
*[[Shan State]]
*[[Shan State]]
|-
|-
| [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]] || {{lang|ar|سنڌي}} || 40,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[India]] || [[Pakistan]]
| [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]] || {{lang|ar|سنڌي}} || 40,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[India]] (Scheduled) || [[Pakistan]]
*[[Sindh]]
*[[Sindh]]
|-
|-
Line 397: Line 422:
| [[Tajik language|Tajik]] || Тоҷикӣ || 7,900,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Tajikistan]] ||
| [[Tajik language|Tajik]] || Тоҷикӣ || 7,900,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Tajikistan]] ||
|-
|-
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]] || {{lang|ta|தமிழ்}} || 88,000,000|| [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] || [[Singapore]]<br>[[Sri Lanka]]<br> || [[India]]
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]] || {{lang|ta|தமிழ்}} || 88,000,000|| [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] || [[India]] (Scheduled), [[Singapore]], [[Sri Lanka]] || [[India]]
*[[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
*[[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
*[[Tamil Nadu]]
*[[Tamil Nadu]]
Line 410: Line 435:
*[[Sabah]]
*[[Sabah]]
|-
|-
| [[Telugu language|Telugu]] || తెలుగు || 86,000,000|| [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] || || [[India]]
| [[Telugu language|Telugu]] || తెలుగు || 86,000,000|| [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] || [[India]] (Scheduled)  || [[India]]
*[[Andhra Pradesh]]
*[[Andhra Pradesh]]
*[[Telangana]]
*[[Telangana]]
*[[Yanam]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
*[[Yanam]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
|-
|-
| [[Tetum language|Tetum]] ||Lia-Tetun || 500,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || [[Timor Leste]] || |[[Indonesia]]  
| [[Tetum language|Tetum]] ||Lia-Tetun || 500,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || [[Timor-Leste]] || |[[Indonesia]]  
*[[East Nusa Tenggara]]
*[[East Nusa Tenggara]]
|-
|-
| [[Thai language|Thai]] || {{lang|th|ภาษาไทย}} || 60,000,000 || [[Kra–Dai languages|Kra-Dai]] || [[Thailand]] ||
| [[Thai language|Thai]] || {{lang|th|ภาษาไทย}} || 60,000,000 || [[Kra–Dai languages|Kra–Dai]] || [[Thailand]] ||
|-
|-
| [[Standard Tibetan|Tibetan]] || {{lang|bo|བོད་སྐད་}} || 1,172,940|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || [[China]]
| [[Standard Tibetan|Tibetan]] || {{lang|bo|བོད་སྐད་}} || 1,172,940|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || [[China]]
Line 430: Line 455:
*[[Kerala]] (''Recognised'')
*[[Kerala]] (''Recognised'')
|-
|-
| [[Turkish language|Turkish]] || Türkçe || 88,000,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || [[Turkey]]<br>[[Cyprus]] ||
| [[Turkish language|Turkish]] || Türkçe || 88,000,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || [[Turkey]]<br>[[Cyprus]] || [[Iraq]]
*[[Turkmeneli]]
|-
|-
| [[Turkmen language|Turkmen]] || Türkmençe || 7,000,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || [[Turkmenistan]] ||
| [[Turkmen language|Turkmen]] || Türkmençe || 7,000,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || [[Turkmenistan]] ||
Line 437: Line 463:
*[[Tuva]]
*[[Tuva]]
|-
|-
| [[Urdu]] || {{nq|اُردُو}} || 62,120,540 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Pakistan]] || [[India]]
| [[Urdu]] || {{nq|اُردُو}} || 255,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Pakistan]], [[India]] (Scheduled)  || [[India]]
*[[Bihar]] (''Recognised in 15 districts'')
*[[Bihar]] (''Recognised in 15 districts'')
*[[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
*[[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]

Latest revision as of 12:38, 19 October 2025

Template:Short description Template:More citations needed

File:Language families of modern Asia.png
The Language families of Asia

Asia is home to hundreds of languages comprising several families and some unrelated isolates. The most spoken language families on the continent include Austroasiatic, Austronesian, Japonic, Dravidian, Indo-European, Afroasiatic, Turkic, Sino-Tibetan, Kra–Dai and Koreanic. Many languages of Asia, such as Chinese, Persian, Sanskrit, Arabic or Tamil have a long history as a written language.

Language groups

File:Ethnolinguisticswasiacia.jpg
Ethnolinguistic distribution in Central/Southwest Asia of the Altaic, Caucasian, Afroasiatic (Hamito-Semitic) and Indo-European families.

The major families in terms of numbers are Indo-European, specifically Indo-Aryan languages and Dravidian languages in South Asia, Iranian languages in parts of West, Central, and South Asia, and Sino-Tibetan in East Asia. Several other families are regionally dominant.

Sino-Tibetan

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

Sino-Tibetan includes Chinese, Tibetan, Burmese, Karen, Boro and numerous languages of the Tibetan Plateau, Southern China, Myanmar, and North East India.

Indo-European

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The Indo-European languages are primarily represented in Asia by the Indo-Iranian branch, with its two main subgroups: Indo-Aryan and Iranian.

Indo-Aryan

Indo-Aryan languages are mainly spoken in the Indian subcontinent, across different modern-day South Asian countries. Examples include languages such as Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu), Bengali, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Marathi, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Sylheti, Noakhali etc.

Iranic

Iranic languages are mainly spoken in and around the Iranian Plateau, spread across the modern-day countries of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan and neighboring regions. Examples include languages like Persian, Kurdish, Pashto and Balochi.

Others

Other branches of Indo-European spoken in Asia include the Slavic branch (due to Asia's proximity to Eastern Europe), which includes Russian in Siberia (since it falls under the Russian Federation); Greek around the Black Sea; and Armenian in Armenia; as well as extinct languages such as Hittite of Anatolia and Tocharian of (Chinese) Turkestan.

Altaic families

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

A number of smaller, but important and separately distinguished language families spread across central and northern Asia have long been linked in a hypothetical, controversial and unproven Altaic family. These are the Turkic, Mongolic, Tungusic (including Manchu), Koreanic, and Japonic languages. But since the mid-20th century a majority of scholars have come to regard it as a Sprachbund.[1][2]

Austroasiatic

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

The Mon–Khmer languages (also known as Austroasiatic) are the language family in South and Southeast Asia. Languages given official status are Vietnamese and Khmer (Cambodian).

Kra–Dai

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

The Kra–Dai languages (also known as Tai-Kadai) are found in southern China, Northeast India and Southeast Asia. Languages given official status are Thai (Siamese) and Lao.

Austronesian

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

The Austronesian languages are widespread throughout Maritime Southeast Asia, including major languages such as Indonesian (Indonesia and Timor-Leste), Fijian (Fiji), Hiligaynon, Bikol, Ilocano, Cebuano, Tagalog (Philippines), and Malay (Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore). Other significant Austronesian languages in Indonesia include Javanese, Sundanese, and Madurese. Meanwhile, Indonesian is the most widely spoken language in the Austronesian family.

Dravidian

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

The Dravidian languages of South India and parts of Sri Lanka include Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Tulu, while smaller languages such as Gondi and Brahui are spoken in central India and Pakistan respectively.

Afro-Asiatic

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

The Afroasiatic languages (in older sources Hamito-Semitic) are represented in Asia by the Semitic branch. Semitic languages are spoken in Western Asia, and include the various dialects of Arabic and Aramaic, Modern Hebrew, and Modern South Arabian languages in addition to extinct languages such as Akkadian and Ancient South Arabian.

Siberian families

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

Besides the Altaic families already mentioned (of which Tungusic is today a minor family of Siberia), there are a number of small language families and isolates spoken across northern Asia. These include the Uralic languages of western Siberia (better known for Hungarian and Finnish in Europe), the Yeniseian languages (linked to Turkic and to the Athabaskan languages of North America), Yukaghir, Nivkh of Sakhalin, Ainu of northern Japan, Chukotko-Kamchatkan in easternmost Siberia, and—just barely—Eskimo–Aleut. Some linguists have noted that the Koreanic languages share more similarities with the Paleosiberian languages than with the Altaic languages. The extinct Rouran language of Mongolia is unclassified, and does not show genetic relationships with any other known language family.

Caucasian families

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

Three small families are spoken in the Caucasus: Kartvelian languages, such as Georgian; Northeast Caucasian (Dagestanian languages), such as Chechen; and Northwest Caucasian, such as Circassian. The latter two may be related to each other. The extinct Hurro-Urartian languages may be related as well.

Small families of Asia

Although dominated by major languages and families, there are number of minor families and isolates in South Asia and Southeast Asia. From west to east, these include:

Creoles and pidgins

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

The eponymous pidgin ("business") language developed with European trade in China. Of the many creoles to have developed, the most spoken today are Chavacano, a Spanish-based creole of the Philippines, and various Malay-based creoles such as Manado Malay influenced by Portuguese. A very well-known Portuguese-based creole is the Kristang, which is spoken in Malacca, a city-state in Malaysia.

Sign languages

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

A number of sign languages are spoken throughout Asia. These include the Japanese Sign Language family, Chinese Sign Language, Indo-Pakistani Sign Language, as well as a number of small indigenous sign languages of countries such as Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. Many official sign languages are part of the French Sign Language family.

Official languages

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Asia and Europe are the only two continents where most countries use native languages as their official languages, though English is also widespread as an international language.

Language Native name Total Speakers Language family Official status in a country Official status in a region
Altai Алтай тил 57,000 Turkic Russia
Arabic Script error: No such module "Lang". 313,000,000 Afro-Asiatic Bahrain
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Oman
Palestine
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syria
UAE
Yemen		 Israel (special status)
Armenian Script error: No such module "Lang". 5,902,970 Indo-European Armenia
Assamese Script error: No such module "Lang". 15,000,000 Indo-European India (Scheduled) India
Azerbaijani Azərbaycanca

آذربایجان دیلی
تۆرکجه

28,000,000 Turkic Azerbaijan Iran

Russia

Balochi بلۏچی

Balòči

7,600,000 Indo-European Pakistan

Iran

Balti بلتی

སྦལ་ཏི།

392,800 Sino-Tibetan Pakistan
Bengali Script error: No such module "Lang". 230,000,000 Indo-European Bangladesh, India (Scheduled) India
Bhojpuri भोजपुरी 50,579,447 Indo-European Nepal Nepal

India

Bikol Bikol
Bikol Naga		 4,300,000 Austronesian Philippines
Bodo बर'/बड़
Boro		 1,984,569 Sino-Tibetan India (Scheduled) Nepal

India

Burmese Script error: No such module "Lang". 33,000,000 Sino-Tibetan Myanmar
Cantonese (Yue) Language Template:Zh 110,000,000 Sino-Tibetan Hong Kong

Macau

Buryat Буряад хэлэн
Template:MongolUnicode		 440,000 Mongolic Russia
Cebuano Bisaya
Binisaya
Sinugbuanong_Binisaya
Sebwano/Sinebwano		 27,500,000 Austronesian Philippines
Chhattisgarhi छत्तीसगढ़ी 17,983,446 Indo-European India
Chin Kukish 3,000,000 Sino-Tibetan Myanmar
Chinese Mandarin Template:Zh 1,300,000,000 Sino-Tibetan China
Singapore
Taiwan		 Myanmar
Dari Script error: No such module "Lang". 33,000,000 Indo-European Afghanistan
Dhivehi Script error: No such module "Lang". 400,000 Indo-European Maldives
Dogri डोगरी 2,600,000 Indo-European India (Scheduled) India
Dzongkha Script error: No such module "Lang". 600,000 Sino-Tibetan Bhutan
Filipino (Tagalog) Wikang Filipino 106,000,000 Austronesian Philippines
Formosan 171,855 Austronesian Republic of China
Georgian Script error: No such module "Lang". 4,200,000 Kartvelian Georgia
Gujarati ગુજરાતી 50,000,000 Indo-European India (Scheduled) India
Hakka 客家話/客家话
Hak-kâ-fa		 2,370,000 Sino-Tibetan Republic of China
Hebrew Script error: No such module "Lang". 7,000,000 Afro-Asiatic Israel
Hindi हिन्दी 615,000,000 Indo-European India (Scheduled) India
Hiligaynon Hiligaynon
Ilonggo
Hiniligaynon/Inilonggo		 9,100,000 Austronesian Philippines
Hokchiu Template:Zh 12,000 Sino-Tibetan Republic of China
Hokkien Template:Zh 18,570,000 Sino-Tibetan Republic of China
Ibanag Ibanag 500,000 Austronesian Philippines
Ilocano Pagsasao nga Ilokano 11,000,000 Austronesian Philippines
Indonesian Bahasa Indonesia 270,000,000 Austronesian Indonesia
Timor-Leste (Working languages)
Japanese Script error: No such module "Lang". 120,000,000 Japonic Japan (de facto)
Javanese Script error: No such module "Lang". 80,000,000 Austronesian Indonesia

Suriname, Sri Lanka, New Caledonia

  • Javanese is also spoken by traditional immigrant communities of Javanese descent
Kachin Jinghpaw 940,000 Sino-Tibetan Myanmar
Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ 51,000,000 Dravidian India (Scheduled) India
Kapampangan Kapampangan/Pampangan 2,800,000 Austronesian Philippines
Karen ကညီကျိာ်း 6,000,000 Sino-Tibetan Myanmar
Kashmiri कॉशुर

كٲشُر

7,000,000 Indo-European India (Scheduled) India
Kayah Karenni 190,000 Sino-Tibetan Myanmar
Karakalpak Qaraqalpaqsha 870,000 Turkic Uzbekistan
Kazakh Qazaqsha 18,000,000 Turkic Kazakhstan China

Russia

Khakas Хакас тілі
Тадар тілі		 43,000 Turkic Russia
Khmer Script error: No such module "Lang". 16,000,000 Austroasiatic Cambodia
Konkani Script error: No such module "Lang". 2,300,000 Indo-European India (Scheduled) India
Korean Script error: No such module "Lang".
Script error: No such module "Lang".		 80,000,000 Koreanic North Korea
South Korea		 China
Kurdish Kurdî
Script error: No such module "Lang".		 32,000,000 Indo-European Middle east
Kyrgyz Кыргызча
Script error: No such module "Lang".		 7,300,000 Turkic Kyrgyzstan China
Lao Script error: No such module "Lang". 7,000,000 Kra-Dai Laos
Magahi मगही/मगधी 12,706,825 Indo-European India
Maguindanao بس ماگینداناو

Maguindanaon

1,500,000 Austronesian Philippines
Malay Bahasa Melayu
Script error: No such module "Lang".		 30,000,000 Austronesian Brunei
Malaysia
Singapore		 Indonesia
  • Malay language in Indonesia is considered a regional language (bahasa daerah), on part with regional languages spoken in the regions of Sumatra and Kalimantan
Malayalam മലയാളം 37,000,000 Dravidian India (Scheduled) India
Marathi मराठी 99,000,000 Indo-European India (Scheduled) India
Maithili मैथिली 34,000,000 Indo-European India (Scheduled)

Nepal

India

Meitei ꯃꯤꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ
মৈতৈ
Manipuri		 2,000,000 Sino-Tibetan India
Mizo Mizo 1,000,000 Sino-Tibetan India (Scheduled) India
Mon Script error: No such module "Lang". 851,000 Austroasiatic Myanmar
Mongolian Монгол хэл
Template:MongolUnicode		 5,200,000 Mongolic Mongolia China
Nagpuri नागपुरी/सादरी 5,108,691 Indo-European India
Nepali नेपाली 29,000,000 Indo-European Nepal, India (Scheduled) India
Odia ଓଡ଼ିଆ 35,000,000 Indo-European India (Scheduled) India
Okinawan 沖縄語 / うちなーぐち 1,143,000 Japonic Japan
Ossetian Ирон 540,000
(50,000 in South Ossetia)		 Indo-European North Ossetia–Alania

South Ossetia

Pangasinan Pangasinan 1,400,000 Austronesian Philippines
Pashto Script error: No such module "Lang". 100,000,000 Indo-European Afghanistan Pakistan
Persian Script error: No such module "Lang". 130,000,000 Indo-European Iran
Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
Template:Nq		 113,000,000 Indo-European India (Scheduled) India
Rakhine Script error: No such module "Lang". 1,000,000 Sino-Tibetan Myanmar
Rohingya Script error: No such module "Lang". 1,800,000 Indo-European
Russian Русский 260,000,000 Indo-European Kazakhstan (co-official)
Kyrgyzstan (co-official)Russia
Sanskrit संस्कृतम् 3,210,000 [4] Indo-European India (Scheduled) India
Santali ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ 7,600,000 Austroasiatic India (Scheduled) India

(Additional)

Shan Script error: No such module "Lang". 3,295,000 Kra-Dai Myanmar
Sindhi Script error: No such module "Lang". 40,000,000 Indo-European India (Scheduled) Pakistan
Sinhala Script error: No such module "Lang". 18,000,000 Indo-European Sri Lanka
Tajik Тоҷикӣ 7,900,000 Indo-European Tajikistan
Tamil Script error: No such module "Lang". 88,000,000 Dravidian India (Scheduled), Singapore, Sri Lanka India
Tausug بَهَسَ سُوگ

Bahasa Suluk

1,200,000 Austronesian Philippines

Malaysia

Telugu తెలుగు 86,000,000 Dravidian India (Scheduled) India
Tetum Lia-Tetun 500,000 Austronesian Timor-Leste Indonesia
Thai Script error: No such module "Lang". 60,000,000 Kra–Dai Thailand
Tibetan Script error: No such module "Lang". 1,172,940 Sino-Tibetan China
Tripuri Tripuri 3,500,000 Sino-Tibetan India
Tulu Script error: No such module "Lang". 1,722,768 Dravidian India
Turkish Türkçe 88,000,000 Turkic Turkey
Cyprus		 Iraq
Turkmen Türkmençe 7,000,000 Turkic Turkmenistan
Tuvan Тыва дыл 240,000 Turkic Russia
Urdu Template:Nq 255,000,000 Indo-European Pakistan, India (Scheduled) India
Uyghur Script error: No such module "Lang". 10,416,910 Turkic China
Uzbek Oʻzbekcha
Ўзбекча		 45,000,000 Turkic Uzbekistan
Vietnamese 㗂越

Tiếng Việt

86,500,000 Austroasiatic Vietnam (de facto)
Waray Winaray/Waray 4,000,000 Austronesian Philippines
Yakut Саха тыла 450,000 Turkic Russia
Zhuang Vahcuengh 16,000,000 Kra-Dai China

See also

Script error: No such module "Portal". Template:Div col

Template:End div col

References

Template:Reflist

Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Eurasian languages Template:Countries and languages lists Template:Region topics Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Blench, Roger. 2015. The Mijiic languages: distribution, dialects, wordlist and classification. m.s.
  4. ↑ Census 2011, Table C-17: Population by bilingualism and trilingualism, India
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