42. Which Country has the Most Languages? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Thinking in English

There are thousands of languages in the world. Some are spoken by billions of people, others by less than one hundred! Which country has the most languages? In this episode I’ll answer that question, look at some of the languages spoken in that country, and try to explain why there are so many!

TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/01/13/42-which-country-has-the-most-languages-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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VOCABULARY LIST

Diversity (n) - a range of different things or people

The wonderful diversity of our country’s wildlife is now under threat

Inhabitant (v) - a person or animal that lives in a particular place

That city has 5 million inhabitants

Linguistically (adv) - in a way that is connected with language or the study of language

Apparently Silicon Valley has become one of the most linguistically diverse places in America

Dialect (n) - a form of a language that people speak in a particular part of a country, containing some different words and grammar, etc.

The poem is written in northern dialect

Descend from (Phrasal v) - if one thing descend from or is descended from another, the later thing develops from the earlier thing

Romance languages are directly descended from Latin

Ancestor (n) - a person related to you who lived a long time ago

There were portraits of his ancestors on the walls of the room

Indigenous (adj) - existing naturally or having always lived in a place; native

The Navajos are among the indigenous people of North America

Colonist (n) - someone who lives in or goes to live in a country or area that is a colony

The first American colonists arrived in the 17th century

Creole (n) - a language that has developed from a mixture of languages

Many Afro-Caribbean Englishes are creoles

Tribe (n) - a group of people, often of related families, who live together, sharing the same language, culture, and history, especially those who do not live in towns or cities

The Masai tribe live in Africa

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

Q. Apart from English, what languages are native to the UK?

A. Welsh, Gaelic, Scots, Ulster scots, Irish, and Cornish!

Q. How many languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea?

A. About 850

Q. Why are there so many languages in Papua New Guinea?

A. The geographical conditions, isolated tribes, and a long history are the perfect ingredients to create a huge range of languages.

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