Interesting Facts About the Languages of the World: What You Should Know About Foreign Languages

Yuriy Ivantsiv
4 min readFeb 13, 2024

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Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash

Language is an amazing means of communication that has been around for thousands of years. Each language has its own characteristics and unique features, and the study of foreign languages can bring us many interesting discoveries. In this article, we will tell you about some amazing facts about the languages of the world that will help you expand your knowledge of linguistics and culture.

1. There are more than 7,000 languages

We usually learn one or two foreign languages, but in fact there are a huge number of different languages around the world. According to UNESCO, there are currently more than 7,000 different language systems. This means that our world is populated by many linguistic communities, each of which has its own unique way of communicating.

2. Chinese is the most common language

If we are talking about the number of native speakers, then the Chinese language ranks first in the world. It is estimated that more than 1.2 billion people speak any of the dialects of the Chinese language. The Chinese language also has the largest written language in the world, consisting of more than 50,000 characters.

3. Arabic is the language of the Quran

Arabic is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world because it is the language of the Holy Quran, the main text of Islam. Today, more than 420 million people speak Arabic, and it is the official language of 26 countries.

4. The most difficult languages to learn

Some languages are considered particularly difficult to learn. Among them are Japanese, Chinese, Arabic and Russian. They are distinguished by their complex grammar, many unique sounds and scripts. However, the complexity of a language also depends on how close it is to your native language.

5. Linguistic diversity

We all know that different languages are spoken in different countries, but in fact sometimes there is a huge variety of languages within one country. For example, more than 1,600 languages are spoken in India, more than 500 in Nigeria, and more than 830 in Papua New Guinea. This testifies to the richness and diversity of linguistic cultures in the world.

6. The Language Revolution

There have been many language revolutions in the history of the world, when one language or a group of languages replaced others. For example, Latin was the language of the Roman Empire, became the international language of science and the official language of the church. However, over time, Latin gradually gave way to national languages.

7. Unique sound systems

Each language has its own unique sound systems and pronunciation. For example, clicks are part of the sound system of some languages of the Click tribe. This phenomenon, unusual for most of the language community, highlights the diversity of language sound systems around the world.

8. Language families

Languages can be classified into different language families. For example, Slavic languages such as Russian, Ukrainian and Polish belong to the same language family. This classification helps linguists to compare, study and compare different languages.

9. Learning a language is actually good for the brain

Learning a foreign language has many benefits for the brain. It helps to improve memory, develop creative thinking, improve multitasking and even reduce the risk of diseases such as dementia. This is due to the need for the brain to adapt to new patterns and structures of language.

10. Linguistic dialects and slang

It is important to note that languages are not static and homogeneous. They are constantly evolving and changing under the influence of culture, time and context. Each language has dialects and various forms of unique slang that reflect local characteristics and colloquial expressions.

Interesting facts about the languages of the world can be a source of fascinating discoveries and an incentive to learn different languages. Learning foreign languages not only helps us expand our knowledge and skills, but also opens up a world of new cultures, traditions and travels. Practical guide “Polyglot Notes. Practical Tips for Learning Foreign Language” (e-book and paperback) will become your indispensable assistant in learning a foreign language, as various methods for developing language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing are presented here. Whatever problem you encounter, the book “Polyglot Notes” will give you good advice. Good luck learning foreign languages and immersing yourself in the amazing variety of languages of the world!

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Yuriy Ivantsiv

Master of History, specialist in culture and museum pedagogy.