Languages leave traces—that was made clear in our last blog post on linguistic forensics. The words we choose reveal our origins, our sentence structure shows how we think, and even short texts can contain enough information for personal identification. Knowing that languages are so individual and complex, it is hardly surprising that when we take a closer look, we learn all sorts of intriguing facts.
Whether it’s the length of an alphabet, sound systems, linguistic records, or culturally influenced peculiarities, languages reveal new worlds. When you learn languages, you not only discover new words, but also new ways of thinking, new perspectives, and a deep appreciation of the diversity of the world.
Below you will find 20 interesting facts about languages.
1. The largest alphabet in the world: 74 letters
The Cambodian language Khmer has the most extensive alphabet in the world – with 74 letters. A masterpiece of written culture.
2. The smallest alphabet has only 12 letters
The Rotokas language from Papua New Guinea uses only a dozen letters – a linguistic marvel of minimalism.
3. Papua New Guinea is the most linguistically diverse country in the world
With over 800 active languages, it is the most diverse linguistic ecosystem on earth. That’s around 10% of all languages worldwide – in a single country.
4. The most difficult language in the world? There is no consensus
Depending on the criteria (pronunciation, grammar, writing), languages such as Tuyuca, Mandarin, or Arabic are considered particularly complex. For linguists, one thing is clear: difficulty depends on the learner’s native language.
5. There are over 7,100 languages – and every year some disappear
UNESCO estimates that every second language is threatened with extinction. Linguistic diversity is valuable—and fragile.
7. The oldest written language still in use is Chinese
Over 3,000 years old – and vibrant. A living fossil of human history.
8. The longest word in the world has over 195 characters
A Sanskrit term holds the record – a single word that tells a whole story.
9. English is the language with the fastest vocabulary growth
An estimated 15 new words per day are added. No wonder language learning is never boring with English.
10. Multilingualism is normal in Africa
Many people there are trilingual or even quadrilingual, mostly due to their natural language environment, not formal learning.
11. The language with the most verb endings The Amazonian language Tuyuca has over 140 verb endings. Grammar level: boss fight.
12. The language with the most consonants
Ubych, a language that is now extinct, had 80 consonants – but only 2 vowels.
13. In the Pirahã language, you can sing – and whisper – as a fully-fledged variant
The Amazonian language Pirahã has a “sung” form of speech that is used when hunting.
14. Icelandic remains true to time
Icelandic has hardly changed for centuries. Icelanders living today can read medieval texts with ease.
15. Emoticons and emojis are now considered a semi-linguistic system
Linguists are debating whether emojis can already be considered a form of written language – after all, they convey meaning, context, and emotions.
16. Japanese has three writing systems – and they are used in combination
Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. A challenge for learners, a treasure for linguists.
17. The language with the oldest known grammar description
Tamil has written records and grammar texts that are over 2,000 years old. And Tamil is still spoken today.
18. The click languages of South Africa are linguistic superstars
The Khoisan languages have over 80 click sounds. These sounds are not as pronounced in any other language family.
19. There are languages without words for “left” and ‘right’
Some Australian languages think entirely in terms of cardinal directions: “your northern foot” instead of “your left foot.”
20. Language influences our thinking—and our brain adapts
Depending on which language we speak, we categorize colors, time, or spaces differently. Language shapes reality.
What these facts about language show
These 20 language facts make it clear:
Language is diversity.
Language is identity.
Language is culture.
And language is movement.
When you learn a new language, you don’t just learn vocabulary – you learn how other people think, feel, and perceive the world. That’s why language learning is so much more than just a course. It’s a journey into new worlds.
How inlingua brings this diversity to life
At inlingua, we have been helping people learn languages for decades – in a clear, structured, personalized, and enjoyable way. Our learning platform my.inlingua and the flexible concept my.SmartLearning combine the best of digital learning, personal support, and genuine communication.
Because language is not just a tool.
Language is power, identity, connection.
And no two people speak the same way.
inlingua helps you use language consciously and confidently — so that it opens doors, broadens horizons, and connects people.