What is the linguistic landscape of Asia like in terms of diversity and major language families?

Asia is characterized by a vast diversity of languages, encompassing numerous language families and some isolated languages. The most prominent language families represented on the continent include Austroasiatic, Austronesian, Japonic, Dravidian, Indo-European, Afroasiatic, Turkic, Sino-Tibetan, Kra–Dai, and Koreanic.

Which languages spoken in Asia have a significant written history?

Several languages in Asia boast a long history as written languages, including Chinese, Persian, Sanskrit, Arabic, and Tamil. These languages have played crucial roles in the cultural and historical development of the regions where they are spoken.

What are the primary components of the Sino-Tibetan language family as mentioned in the text?

The Sino-Tibetan language family includes languages such as Chinese, Tibetan, Burmese, Karen, and Boro, along with many other languages spoken across the Tibetan Plateau, Southern China, Myanmar, and Northeast India.

How are the Indo-European languages primarily represented in Asia?

In Asia, the Indo-European languages are mainly represented by the Indo-Iranian branch, which is further divided into the Indo-Aryan and Iranian subgroups. Indo-Aryan languages are predominantly spoken in South Asia, while Iranic languages are found across West, Central, and South Asia.

Can you list some examples of Indo-Aryan languages spoken in South Asia?

Examples of Indo-Aryan languages spoken in South Asia include Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu), Bengali, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Marathi, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Sylheti, and Noakhali.

Which countries are primarily associated with the Iranic languages, and what are some key examples?

Iranic languages are mainly spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan, as well as neighboring regions. Prominent examples include Persian, Kurdish, Pashto, and Balochi.

Besides the Indo-Iranian branch, what other Indo-European language branches are present in Asia?

Other Indo-European branches found in Asia include the Slavic branch, with Russian spoken in Siberia; Greek around the Black Sea; and Armenian. Additionally, extinct languages like Hittite in Anatolia and Tocharian in Chinese Turkestan are also part of this linguistic presence.

What is the hypothetical 'Altaic' language family, and what is the current scholarly consensus?

The Altaic family is a hypothetical grouping that has historically linked languages such as Turkic, Mongolic, Tungusic (including Manchu), Koreanic, and Japonic. However, since the mid-20th century, a majority of scholars consider it a Sprachbund, meaning a group of languages that have come to share linguistic traits due to geographical proximity and language contact, rather than a genetically related family.

What are the Mon–Khmer languages, and which ones hold official status in Asia?

The Mon–Khmer languages are also known as Austroasiatic languages and form a language family found in South and Southeast Asia. Vietnamese and Khmer (Cambodian) are two of these languages that have official status.

Where are the Kra–Dai languages primarily located, and which are officially recognized?

The Kra–Dai languages, also referred to as Tai-Kadai, are found in southern China, Northeast India, and Southeast Asia. Thai (Siamese) and Lao are the languages within this family that have official status.

What is the geographical distribution of Austronesian languages, and what are some major examples in Indonesia and the Philippines?

Austronesian languages are widespread throughout Maritime Southeast Asia. Major examples include Indonesian, Malay, Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, and Bikol in the Philippines and Indonesia, among others. Indonesian is noted as the most widely spoken language in this family.

Where are the Dravidian languages predominantly spoken, and what are some of their main representatives?

Dravidian languages are primarily spoken in South India and parts of Sri Lanka. Key examples include Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. Smaller languages like Gondi and Brahui are spoken in central India and Pakistan, respectively.

How are Afro-Asiatic languages represented in Asia, and which specific branch is most notable?

Afro-Asiatic languages are represented in Asia by the Semitic branch, primarily in Western Asia. This includes various dialects of Arabic and Aramaic, Modern Hebrew, and extinct languages like Akkadian and Ancient South Arabian.

What are some of the smaller language families and isolates found across northern Asia?

Besides the debated Altaic families, northern Asia is home to several smaller families and isolates. These include the Uralic languages in western Siberia, Yeniseian languages, Yukaghir, Nivkh, Ainu languages in northern Japan, Chukotko-Kamchatkan languages in eastern Siberia, and Eskimo–Aleut languages.

What are the three main language families spoken in the Caucasus region?

The three main language families spoken in the Caucasus region are Kartvelian languages (like Georgian), Northeast Caucasian languages (like Chechen), and Northwest Caucasian languages (like Circassian). The latter two may be related, and the extinct Hurro-Urartian languages might also be related.

Which extinct languages from the Fertile Crescent are mentioned in the text?

The text mentions Sumerian and Elamite as extinct languages of the Fertile Crescent.

What are some of the minor language families and isolates found in the Indian subcontinent?

The Indian subcontinent hosts several minor language families and isolates, including Burushaski, Kusunda, and Nihali. The Vedda language of Sri Lanka is also considered a likely isolate.

What are the two primary Andamanese language families mentioned?

The two primary Andamanese language families mentioned are the Great Andamanese languages and the Ongan languages. Sentinelese remains undocumented and unclassified.

What are some of the languages found in Arunachal that are considered difficult to classify?

Languages in Arunachal that are difficult to classify include the Digaro, Hrusish (including Miji), Midzu, Puroik, Siangic, and Kho-Bwa languages.

What was the first pidgin language associated with European trade in China?

The text mentions Chinese Pidgin English as an eponymous pidgin language that developed with European trade in China.

What are some of the most widely spoken creole languages in Asia today?

Among the most spoken creole languages in Asia are Chavacano, a Spanish-based creole in the Philippines, and various Malay-based creoles like Manado Malay. Kristang, a Portuguese-based creole, is also noted.

What types of sign languages are spoken across Asia?

Asia is home to a variety of sign languages, including the Japanese Sign Language family, Chinese Sign Language, and Indo-Pakistani Sign Language. Many indigenous sign languages are also spoken in countries like Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam, with many official sign languages belonging to the French Sign Language family.

How does the use of native languages as official languages in Asia compare to Europe?

Asia and Europe are the only continents where most countries predominantly use their native languages as official languages, although English is also widely used as an international language.

What is the native name for the Azerbaijani language?

The native name for the Azerbaijani language is Azərbaycanca, also written as آذربایجان دیلی or Tərcəhə.

How many speakers does the Bengali language have, and in which countries is it an official language?

The Bengali language has approximately 230,000,000 speakers and is an official language in Bangladesh and India (where it is a scheduled language). It also has official status in specific regions within India, such as Assam's Barak Valley, Tripura, and West Bengal.

To which language family does Burmese belong, and where is it officially recognized?

Burmese belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family and is the official language of Myanmar.

What are the native names for the Chinese Mandarin language?

The native names for Chinese Mandarin include 普通话/普通話 (Pǔtōnghuà), 国语/國語 (Guóyǔ), and 华语/華語 (Huáyǔ).

What is the total number of speakers for Hindi, and in which Indian states is it an official or additional language?

Hindi has approximately 615,000,000 speakers. It is an official language in India and holds official or additional status in numerous Indian states and union territories, including Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.

To which language family does Japanese belong, and where is it spoken?

Japanese belongs to the Japonic language family and is spoken in Japan, where it holds de facto official status.

How many speakers does the Korean language have, and in which countries is it official?

The Korean language has approximately 80,000,000 speakers and is official in North Korea and South Korea. It is also spoken in specific autonomous prefectures within China, such as Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture.

What is the native name for the Persian language, and where is it an official language?

The native name for the Persian language is فارسی (Farsi), and it is the official language of Iran.

What language family does Tamil belong to, and in which countries and regions is it official?

Tamil belongs to the Dravidian language family. It is official in India (specifically Tamil Nadu and Puducherry), Singapore, and Sri Lanka.

What is the total number of speakers for Urdu, and in which countries and regions is it official or recognized?

Urdu has approximately 255,000,000 speakers. It is official in Pakistan and is a scheduled language in India, with recognized or additional status in states like Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Delhi, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

What language family does Vietnamese belong to, and where is it spoken?

Vietnamese belongs to the Austroasiatic language family and is the de facto official language of Vietnam.

What is the native name for the Arabic language, and in which countries is it official?

The native name for the Arabic language is العربية (al-ʿarabiyyah). It is official in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE, and Yemen. It also has a special status in Israel.

How many speakers does the Kazakh language have, and where is it official?

The Kazakh language has approximately 18,000,000 speakers and is the official language of Kazakhstan. It is also spoken in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture in China and parts of the Altai Republic in Russia.

What language family does the Thai language belong to, and where is it official?

The Thai language belongs to the Kra–Dai language family and is the official language of Thailand.

What is the native name for the Russian language, and where is it official?

The native name for the Russian language is Русский (Russkiy). It is co-official in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and is the official language of Russia.

What language family does the Turkish language belong to, and where is it official?

The Turkish language belongs to the Turkic language family and is official in Turkey and Cyprus. It is also spoken in regions like Turkmeneli in Iraq.

How many speakers does the Indonesian language have, and where is it official?

The Indonesian language has approximately 270,000,000 speakers and is official in Indonesia. It also serves as a working language in Timor-Leste.

What language family does the Assamese language belong to, and where is it official?

The Assamese language belongs to the Indo-European language family and is an official language in India, specifically in the state of Assam.

What is the native name for the Armenian language, and where is it official?

The native name for the Armenian language is Հայերեն (Hayeren), and it is the official language of Armenia.

What language family does the Balochi language belong to, and where is it recognized?

The Balochi language belongs to the Indo-European language family. It is recognized in Pakistan (Balochistan) and Iran (Sistan and Baluchestan Province).

How many speakers does the Bhojpuri language have, and where is it official?

The Bhojpuri language has approximately 50,579,447 speakers. It is official in Nepal and is also recognized as an additional language in parts of India, such as Jharkhand.

What language family does the Burmese language belong to, and where is it official?

The Burmese language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family and is the official language of Myanmar.

What are the native names for the Cantonese language, and where is it official?

The native names for Cantonese are 廣東話/广东话 (Guǎngdōnghuà). It is official in Hong Kong and Macau.

How many speakers does the Dari language have, and where is it official?

The Dari language has approximately 33,000,000 speakers and is official in Afghanistan.

What language family does the Dhivehi language belong to, and where is it official?

The Dhivehi language belongs to the Indo-European language family and is the official language of the Maldives.

What is the native name for the Dogri language, and where is it official?

The native name for the Dogri language is डोगरी (Dogri). It is an official language in India, specifically in Jammu and Kashmir.

How many speakers does the Dzongkha language have, and where is it official?

The Dzongkha language has approximately 600,000 speakers and is the official language of Bhutan.

What are some of the extinct languages mentioned that were spoken in the Fertile Crescent?

The extinct languages mentioned as having been spoken in the Fertile Crescent are Sumerian and Elamite.

Languages Of Asia Wiki: Asia's Linguistic Tapestry: A Scholarly Exploration

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Continental Linguistic Overview

A Multitude of Tongues

Asia, the largest and most populous continent, is a cradle of linguistic diversity, hosting hundreds of languages that belong to numerous distinct families, alongside several language isolates. The continent's linguistic landscape is shaped by millennia of migration, trade, and cultural exchange.

Major Language Families

The most prominent language families in Asia, based on the number of speakers and geographical distribution, include:

Sino-Tibetan: Predominant in East Asia.
Indo-European: Dominant in South and West Asia.
Altaic (Hypothetical): Spanning Central and Northern Asia.
Austroasiatic: Found in Southeast Asia.
Kra-Dai: Primarily in Southeast Asia and Southern China.
Austronesian: Widespread across Maritime Southeast Asia.
Dravidian: Concentrated in South India.
Afro-Asiatic: Represented in Western Asia.

Numerous other families and isolates contribute to the continent's rich linguistic heritage.

Historical Significance

Many Asian languages, such as Chinese, Persian, Sanskrit, Arabic, and Tamil, possess ancient written traditions, serving as foundational languages for vast cultural and intellectual traditions across the continent and beyond.

Key Language Families and Groups

Sino-Tibetan

This extensive family includes languages spoken across East Asia and parts of Southeast Asia and Northeast India. Prominent members include Chinese, Tibetan, Burmese, and Karen languages.

Major languages within this family include:

Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka)
Tibetan
Burmese
Karen
Boro

Indo-European

Represented primarily by the Indo-Iranian branch, this family is dominant in South and West Asia. It encompasses major language groups like Indo-Aryan and Iranian.

Key subgroups and languages include:

Indo-Aryan: Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu), Bengali, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Sylheti, Noakhali.
Iranian: Persian, Kurdish, Pashto, Balochi.
Other branches include Russian (Slavic), Greek, Armenian, and extinct languages like Hittite and Tocharian.

Altaic Families (Hypothesized)

A controversial grouping linking languages across Central and Northern Asia, including Turkic, Mongolic, Tungusic, Koreanic, and Japonic languages. Many scholars now view this as a Sprachbund (area of linguistic convergence) rather than a genetic family.

Turkic (e.g., Turkish, Kazakh, Uzbek, Uyghur)
Mongolic (e.g., Mongolian, Buryat)
Tungusic (e.g., Manchu)
Koreanic
Japonic (e.g., Japanese, Okinawan)

Austroasiatic

This family is found in South and Southeast Asia. The most prominent languages with official status are Vietnamese and Khmer (Cambodian).

Vietnamese
Khmer
Mon
Santali

Kra-Dai

Also known as Tai-Kadai, these languages are spoken in southern China, Northeast India, and Southeast Asia. Thai and Lao are the most prominent official languages.

Thai
Lao
Zhuang
Shan

Austronesian

Widespread throughout Maritime Southeast Asia, this family includes major languages like Indonesian, Malay, and numerous languages of the Philippines.

Indonesian
Malay
Tagalog (Filipino)
Cebuano
Javanese
Ilocano
Hiligaynon
Waray
Maguindanao
Kapampangan
Ibanag
Tetum
Fijian

Dravidian

Predominantly spoken in South India and parts of Sri Lanka, this family includes major languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

Tamil
Telugu
Kannada
Malayalam
Tulu
Gondi
Brahui

Afro-Asiatic

Represented in Asia by the Semitic branch, spoken in Western Asia. This family includes Arabic, Hebrew, and Aramaic languages.

Arabic
Hebrew
Aramaic
Modern South Arabian languages

Siberian Families

Spoken across northern Asia, these include smaller families and isolates like Uralic, Yeniseian, Yukaghir, Nivkh, Ainu, Chukotko-Kamchatkan, and Eskimo-Aleut languages.

Uralic (e.g., Hungarian, Finnish - primarily European, but roots in W. Siberia)
Yeniseian
Yukaghir
Nivkh
Ainu
Chukotko-Kamchatkan
Eskimo-Aleut

Caucasian Families

Three small families are spoken in the Caucasus region: Kartvelian (e.g., Georgian), Northeast Caucasian (e.g., Chechen), and Northwest Caucasian (e.g., Circassian).

Kartvelian (e.g., Georgian)
Northeast Caucasian (e.g., Chechen)
Northwest Caucasian (e.g., Circassian)

Small Families & Isolates

Asia hosts numerous smaller families and isolates, particularly in South and Southeast Asia, including Hattic, Sumerian, Elamite, Harappan, Burushaski, Nihali, Kusunda, and various Andamanese languages.

Hattic, Sumerian, Elamite (extinct)
Harappan (unclassified)
Burushaski, Nihali, Kusunda (isolates)
Andamanese families (Great Andamanese, Ongan)
Arunachal languages
Hmong-Mien
Papuan languages

Official Languages of Asian States

Language Status

The following table provides an overview of languages with official status in various Asian countries and regions, alongside their estimated speaker counts and family affiliations.

Language	Native Name	Total Speakers	Language Family	Official Status (Country)	Official Status (Region)
Altai	Алтай тил	57,000	Turkic		Russia (Altai Republic)
Arabic	العربية	313,000,000	Afro-Asiatic	Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, Yemen	Israel (special status)
Armenian	Հայերեն	5,902,970	Indo-European	Armenia
Assamese	অসমীয়া	15,000,000	Indo-European	India (Scheduled)	India (Assam)
Azerbaijani	Azərbaycan dili / آذربایجان دیلی	28,000,000	Turkic	Azerbaijan	Iran (South Azerbaijan), Russia (Dagestan)
Balochi	بلوچی / Balòči	7,600,000	Indo-European		Pakistan (Balochistan), Iran (Sistan and Baluchestan)
Bengali	বাংলা	230,000,000	Indo-European	Bangladesh, India (Scheduled)	India (Assam, Jharkhand, Tripura, West Bengal)
Bhojpuri	भोजपुरी	50,579,447	Indo-European	Nepal	Nepal (Province 2), India (Jharkhand)
Bodo	बर'/बड़ो / Boro	1,984,569	Sino-Tibetan	India (Scheduled)	India (Assam, West Bengal)
Burmese	မြန်မာဘာသာ	33,000,000	Sino-Tibetan	Myanmar
Cantonese (Yue)	廣東話 / 廣東話	110,000,000	Sino-Tibetan		China (Hong Kong, Macau)
Chinese Mandarin	普通话 / 國語	1,300,000,000	Sino-Tibetan	China, Singapore, Taiwan	Myanmar (Kokang, Wa State)
Dari	دری	33,000,000	Indo-European	Afghanistan
Dhivehi	ދިވެހި	400,000	Indo-European	Maldives
Dogri	डोगरी	2,600,000	Indo-European	India (Scheduled)	India (Jammu and Kashmir)
Dzongkha	རྫོང་ཁ	600,000	Sino-Tibetan	Bhutan
Filipino (Tagalog)	Wikang Filipino	106,000,000	Austronesian	Philippines
Georgian	ქართული	4,200,000	Kartvelian	Georgia
Gujarati	ગુજરાતી	50,000,000	Indo-European	India (Scheduled)	India (Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Gujarat)
Hakka	客家話 / Hak-kâ-fa	2,370,000	Sino-Tibetan		Taiwan
Hebrew	עברית	7,000,000	Afro-Asiatic	Israel
Hiligaynon	Hiligaynon / Ilonggo	9,100,000	Austronesian		Philippines (Western Visayas)
Hindi	हिन्दी	615,000,000	Indo-European	India (Scheduled)	India (Multiple states and territories)
Ilocano	Pagsasao nga Ilokano	11,000,000	Austronesian		Philippines (Northern Luzon, Central Luzon)
Indonesian	Bahasa Indonesia	270,000,000	Austronesian	Indonesia, Timor-Leste (Working)
Japanese	日本語	120,000,000	Japonic	Japan (de facto)
Javanese	Basa Jawa	80,000,000	Austronesian		Indonesia (Yogyakarta, Central Java, East Java)
Kannada	ಕನ್ನಡ	51,000,000	Dravidian	India (Scheduled)	India (Karnataka)
Kapampangan	Kapampangan/Pampangan	2,800,000	Austronesian		Philippines (Central Luzon)
Kashmiri	कॉशुर / کشیٖر	7,000,000	Indo-European	India (Scheduled)	India (Jammu and Kashmir)
Kazakh	Қазақша	18,000,000	Turkic	Kazakhstan	China (Ili Kazakh), Russia (Altai Republic)
Khmer	ភាសាខ្មែរ	16,000,000	Austroasiatic	Cambodia
Konkani	कोंकणी / Konkani	2,300,000	Indo-European	India (Scheduled)	India (Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu)
Korean	조선어 / 한국어	80,000,000	Koreanic	North Korea, South Korea	China (Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture)
Kurdish	Kurdî / کوردی	32,000,000	Indo-European		Middle East (Great Kurdistan)
Kyrgyz	Кыргызча / قىرعىزچا	7,300,000	Turkic	Kyrgyzstan	China (Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture)
Lao	ພາສາລາວ	7,000,000	Kra-Dai	Laos
Magahi	मगही/मगधी	12,706,825	Indo-European		India (Jharkhand)
Malay	Bahasa Melayu / بهاس ملايو	30,000,000	Austronesian	Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore	Indonesia (regional language)
Malayalam	മലയാളം	37,000,000	Dravidian	India (Scheduled)	India (Kerala, Lakshadweep, Mahé)
Marathi	मराठी	99,000,000	Indo-European	India (Scheduled)	India (Maharashtra, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu)
Maithili	मैथिली	34,000,000	Indo-European	India (Scheduled)	Nepal (Madhesh Province, Province No. 1), India (Bihar, Jharkhand)
Meitei	ꯃꯩꯇꯩ / মৈতৈ / Manipuri	2,000,000	Sino-Tibetan		India (Manipur)
Mongolian	Монгол хэл	5,200,000	Mongolic	Mongolia	China (Inner Mongolia)
Nepali	नेपाली	29,000,000	Indo-European	Nepal, India (Scheduled)	India (Darjeeling, Sikkim)
Odia	ଓଡ଼ିଆ	35,000,000	Indo-European	India (Scheduled)	India (Odisha, Jharkhand)
Pashto	پښتو	100,000,000	Indo-European	Afghanistan	Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan)
Persian	فارسی	130,000,000	Indo-European	Iran
Punjabi	ਪੰਜਾਬੀ / پنجابی	113,000,000	Indo-European	India (Scheduled)	India (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, West Bengal)
Rohingya	Ruáingga	1,800,000	Indo-European		Myanmar (Rakhine State)
Russian	Русский	260,000,000	Indo-European	Russia	Kazakhstan (co-official), Kyrgyzstan (co-official)
Sanskrit	संस्कृतम्	3,210,000	Indo-European	India (Scheduled)	India (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh)
Santali	ᱥᱱᱛᱟᱞᱤ	7,600,000	Austroasiatic	India (Scheduled)	India (West Bengal, Jharkhand)
Sindhi	سنڌي	40,000,000	Indo-European	India (Scheduled)	Pakistan (Sindh)
Sinhala	සිංහල	18,000,000	Indo-European	Sri Lanka
Tajik	Тоҷикӣ	7,900,000	Indo-European	Tajikistan
Tamil	தமிழ்	88,000,000	Dravidian	India (Scheduled), Singapore, Sri Lanka	India (Tamil Nadu, Puducherry)
Telugu	తెలుగు	86,000,000	Dravidian	India (Scheduled)	India (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Yanam)
Thai	ภาษาไทย	60,000,000	Kra-Dai	Thailand
Tibetan	བོད་སྐད་	1,172,940	Sino-Tibetan		China (Tibet Autonomous Region)
Turkish	Türkçe	88,000,000	Turkic	Turkey, Cyprus	Iraq (Turkmeneli)
Turkmen	Türkmençe	7,000,000	Turkic	Turkmenistan
Urdu	اُردو	255,000,000	Indo-European	Pakistan, India (Scheduled)	India (Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Delhi, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal)
Uyghur	ئۇيغۇرچە	10,416,910	Turkic		China (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region)
Uzbek	Oʻzbekcha / Ўзбекча	45,000,000	Turkic	Uzbekistan
Vietnamese	Tiếng Việt	86,500,000	Austroasiatic	Vietnam (de facto)

Creoles and Pidgins

Linguistic Fusion

Asia is home to various creole languages, which develop from pidgins when they become the native language of a community. These languages often blend elements from multiple parent languages.

Notable examples include:

Chinese Pidgin English: Developed through trade in China.
Chavacano: A Spanish-based creole in the Philippines.
Malay-based creoles: Such as Manado Malay, influenced by Portuguese.
Kristang: A Portuguese-based creole spoken in Malacca, Malaysia.

Sign Languages

Visual Communication

A variety of sign languages are utilized across Asia, facilitating communication within Deaf communities. Many are part of larger international families, while others are indigenous.

Japanese Sign Language family
Chinese Sign Language
Indo-Pakistani Sign Language
Indigenous sign languages in Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Many are related to the French Sign Language family.

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References

Census 2011, Table C-17: Population by bilingualism and trilingualism, India

A full list of references for this article are available at the Languages of Asia Wikipedia page

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Important Notice

This content has been meticulously compiled by an AI, drawing exclusively from the provided source material. It is intended for academic and informational purposes, aiming to present complex linguistic data in an accessible format for higher education students.

This is not professional linguistic advice. The information presented is based on a snapshot of data and may not encompass all nuances or the most current linguistic research. Always consult authoritative linguistic resources and academic experts for definitive analysis and interpretation.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any omissions or inaccuracies, nor for any actions taken based on the information herein.

Asia's Linguistic Tapestry

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Continental Linguistic Overview 🌍

🌐 A Multitude of Tongues

🌳 Major Language Families

📜 Historical Significance

Key Language Families and Groups 🗣️

🇨🇳 Sino-Tibetan

🇮🇳 Indo-European

🐎 Altaic Families (Hypothesized)

🌳 Austroasiatic

🇹🇭 Kra-Dai

🇵🇭 Austronesian

🇮🇳 Dravidian

🇸🇦 Afro-Asiatic

❄️ Siberian Families

⛰️ Caucasian Families

🏝️ Small Families & Isolates

Official Languages of Asian States 📊

🏛️ Language Status

Creoles and Pidgins 🔗

💬 Linguistic Fusion

Sign Languages 🤟

🧏 Visual Communication

Teacher's Corner 🧑‍🏫

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Gamer's Corner 🎮

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References

📜 References

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Academic Disclaimer ⚠️

📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Continental Linguistic Overview

A Multitude of Tongues

Major Language Families

Historical Significance

Key Language Families and Groups

Sino-Tibetan

Indo-European

Altaic Families (Hypothesized)

Austroasiatic

Kra-Dai

Austronesian

Dravidian

Afro-Asiatic

Siberian Families

Caucasian Families

Small Families & Isolates

Official Languages of Asian States

Language Status

Creoles and Pidgins

Linguistic Fusion

Sign Languages

Visual Communication

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Academic Disclaimer

Important Notice