Tens of Thousands of Languages May Have Existed 12,000 Years Ago — Study in Science

A study published in the journal Science estimates that at the dawn of the Holocene around 10,000 BCE, Earth's 4.4–7 million people — almost all hunter-gatherers — may have spoken tens of thousands of languages. Researchers combined ethnographic data, demographic estimates and statistical models to reconstruct linguistic history from before the era of writing. Today roughly 7,500 languages remain, a fraction of what once existed. The spread of agriculture and the rise of large settlements are identified as key drivers of language loss.

More on this topic

🔬 Science Nabta Playa: The Saharan Stone Circle Older Than Stonehenge Still Baffles Experts Focus.pl · 1h ago 🔬 Science November babies live longest, science confirms birth month affects lifespan naTemat · 2h ago 🔬 Science Language Diversity Peaked in the Holocene Then Sharply Declined Hacker News · 3h ago 🔬 Science Sulfur compound LASSS could slow age-related muscle loss Science Daily · 6h ago 🔬 Science Durham study: anyone can learn echolocation in just 10 weeks National Geographic PL · 6h ago 🔬 Science Landmark transplant: pig kidneys stored at -4°C successfully transplanted MIT Technology Review · 7h ago

More on this topic

🔬 Science Nabta Playa: The Saharan Stone Circle Older Than Stonehenge Still Baffles Experts Focus.pl · 1h ago 🔬 Science November babies live longest, science confirms birth month affects lifespan naTemat · 2h ago 🔬 Science Language Diversity Peaked in the Holocene Then Sharply Declined Hacker News · 3h ago