Top 10 Rare Languages Still Spoken Around the World

hey come on I fancy yourself a linguist

hey come on I fancy yourself a linguist why not brush up on one of these obscure

why not brush up on one of these obscure

why not brush up on one of these obscure tongues welcome to watchmojo.com and

tongues welcome to watchmojo.com and

tongues welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for

today we’re counting down our picks for

today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten rare languages still spoken

the top ten rare languages still spoken

the top ten rare languages still spoken around the world

before we begin we publish new videos

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every day so be sure to subscribe for more great content for this list we’re

more great content for this list we’re

more great content for this list we’re looking at the rarest organic languages

looking at the rarest organic languages

looking at the rarest organic languages meaning those that arose naturally and

meaning those that arose naturally and

meaning those that arose naturally and were not intentionally created like

were not intentionally created like

were not intentionally created like Esperanto or Ling Coase or created for

Esperanto or Ling Coase or created for

Esperanto or Ling Coase or created for TV or movies like Klingon or Navi number

TV or movies like Klingon or Navi number

TV or movies like Klingon or Navi number 10 Friulian

while this Romance language is spoken by

while this Romance language is spoken by roughly 600,000 people worldwide the

roughly 600,000 people worldwide the

roughly 600,000 people worldwide the vast majority of speakers are found in

vast majority of speakers are found in

vast majority of speakers are found in northern Italy near the Slovenian border

northern Italy near the Slovenian border

northern Italy near the Slovenian border related to Latin spelled with a D and

related to Latin spelled with a D and

related to Latin spelled with a D and not a T the language took on its own

not a T the language took on its own

not a T the language took on its own identity over the centuries under the

identity over the centuries under the

identity over the centuries under the influence of Slovene Italian German and

influence of Slovene Italian German and

influence of Slovene Italian German and Phoenician oddly despite originating

Phoenician oddly despite originating

Phoenician oddly despite originating deep in Alpine Italy the language is

deep in Alpine Italy the language is

deep in Alpine Italy the language is thought to be more similar to French and

thought to be more similar to French and

thought to be more similar to French and construction than Italian though once

construction than Italian though once

construction than Italian though once very much isolated to the province of

very much isolated to the province of

very much isolated to the province of Edina poverty in that region has seen

Edina poverty in that region has seen

Edina poverty in that region has seen Friulian speaking Italians move across

Friulian speaking Italians move across

Friulian speaking Italians move across the globe and generate more interest in

the globe and generate more interest in

the globe and generate more interest in this distinct language

by other principal maintain free old odd

by other principal maintain free old odd chica number nine to Yuka

this uncommon language is spoken by the

this uncommon language is spoken by the – Yuka an indigenous people located near

– Yuka an indigenous people located near

– Yuka an indigenous people located near the Papua deep in in Ambu and team K

the Papua deep in in Ambu and team K

the Papua deep in in Ambu and team K rivers in South America

rivers in South America

rivers in South America it’s a poly synthetic language meaning

it’s a poly synthetic language meaning

it’s a poly synthetic language meaning that complex words are created by

that complex words are created by

that complex words are created by staking simple words together and as a

staking simple words together and as a

staking simple words together and as a result it is notoriously hard to learn

result it is notoriously hard to learn

result it is notoriously hard to learn with about fifty to one hundred and

with about fifty to one hundred and

with about fifty to one hundred and forty genders or noun classes it’s

forty genders or noun classes it’s

forty genders or noun classes it’s considered one of the most difficult

considered one of the most difficult

considered one of the most difficult languages in the world

languages in the world

languages in the world you really have to be immersed in it

you really have to be immersed in it

you really have to be immersed in it daily to even begin to get it right not

daily to even begin to get it right not

daily to even begin to get it right not to mention that there are tones to worry

to mention that there are tones to worry

to mention that there are tones to worry about so unless you are one of the 500

about so unless you are one of the 500

about so unless you are one of the 500 to 1000 native speakers good luck number

to 1000 native speakers good luck number

to 1000 native speakers good luck number eight you pick like in the previous

eight you pick like in the previous

eight you pick like in the previous entry the you pick lexicon is

entry the you pick lexicon is

entry the you pick lexicon is polysynthetic and largely created with

polysynthetic and largely created with

polysynthetic and largely created with combinations the new words can have very

combinations the new words can have very

combinations the new words can have very very specific meanings you can basically

very specific meanings you can basically

very specific meanings you can basically create sentences out of a single word an

create sentences out of a single word an

create sentences out of a single word an often cited example is well this word

often cited example is well this word

often cited example is well this word which means he had not yet said again

which means he had not yet said again

which means he had not yet said again that he was going to hunt reindeer it’s

that he was going to hunt reindeer it’s

that he was going to hunt reindeer it’s spoken by the you pick peoples in Alaska

spoken by the you pick peoples in Alaska

spoken by the you pick peoples in Alaska and far eastern Russia where more than

and far eastern Russia where more than

and far eastern Russia where more than 75 percent of the population is fluent

75 percent of the population is fluent

75 percent of the population is fluent in this language whether some form of it

in this language whether some form of it

in this language whether some form of it you see you pick isn’t one language but

you see you pick isn’t one language but

you see you pick isn’t one language but rather a collection of similar but

rather a collection of similar but

rather a collection of similar but distinct languages one of which is

distinct languages one of which is

distinct languages one of which is actually extinct number seven Pawnee

actually extinct number seven Pawnee

actually extinct number seven Pawnee school did do these school eyes suck of

school did do these school eyes suck of

school did do these school eyes suck of it just to hold it

it just to hold it

it just to hold it another poly synthetic language this one

another poly synthetic language this one

another poly synthetic language this one is perhaps the big boss of them all the

is perhaps the big boss of them all the

is perhaps the big boss of them all the language spoken by Native Americans of

language spoken by Native Americans of

language spoken by Native Americans of the same name who reside predominantly

the same name who reside predominantly

the same name who reside predominantly in what is now

in what is now

in what is now Lahoma has a fairly simple alphabetical

Lahoma has a fairly simple alphabetical

Lahoma has a fairly simple alphabetical set up with only eight vowels and nine

set up with only eight vowels and nine

set up with only eight vowels and nine consonants

consonants

consonants however most sentences will have at

however most sentences will have at

however most sentences will have at least one word with more than ten

least one word with more than ten

least one word with more than ten syllables with some words containing as

syllables with some words containing as

syllables with some words containing as many as 30 with the number of native

many as 30 with the number of native

many as 30 with the number of native speakers shrinking as the population

speakers shrinking as the population

speakers shrinking as the population ages the Pawnee nation has developed

ages the Pawnee nation has developed

ages the Pawnee nation has developed programs to teach the language to youth

programs to teach the language to youth

programs to teach the language to youth and adults alike in the hopes of saving

and adults alike in the hopes of saving

and adults alike in the hopes of saving it from extinction number six

it from extinction number six

it from extinction number six Archy spoken almost exclusively in the

Archy spoken almost exclusively in the

Archy spoken almost exclusively in the village of our cheap and the six smaller

village of our cheap and the six smaller

village of our cheap and the six smaller nearby villages in southern Dagestan

nearby villages in southern Dagestan

nearby villages in southern Dagestan Russia this one is seriously rare for a

Russia this one is seriously rare for a

Russia this one is seriously rare for a long time there was no writing system

long time there was no writing system

long time there was no writing system and it wasn’t until 2006 that a Cyrillic

and it wasn’t until 2006 that a Cyrillic

and it wasn’t until 2006 that a Cyrillic based alphabet was created for this

based alphabet was created for this

based alphabet was created for this North East Caucasian language it has a

North East Caucasian language it has a

North East Caucasian language it has a ton of phonemes or distinguishing sounds

ton of phonemes or distinguishing sounds

ton of phonemes or distinguishing sounds and an incredible morphological system

and an incredible morphological system

and an incredible morphological system with many irregularities for every verb

with many irregularities for every verb

with many irregularities for every verb root there are over one and a half

root there are over one and a half

root there are over one and a half million forms to be derived and you

million forms to be derived and you

million forms to be derived and you thought your intro to Spanish class was

thought your intro to Spanish class was

thought your intro to Spanish class was hard number five pirahã as a change of

hard number five pirahã as a change of

hard number five pirahã as a change of pace here is a much simpler language in

pace here is a much simpler language in

pace here is a much simpler language in fact it’s often thought to be one of the

fact it’s often thought to be one of the

fact it’s often thought to be one of the simplest languages in the world with ten

simplest languages in the world with ten

simplest languages in the world with ten or less phonemes sometimes there are no

or less phonemes sometimes there are no

or less phonemes sometimes there are no words at all only hums it’s also lacking

words at all only hums it’s also lacking

words at all only hums it’s also lacking many descriptors common in other

many descriptors common in other

many descriptors common in other languages there don’t seem to be any

languages there don’t seem to be any

languages there don’t seem to be any words for colors numbers or past or

words for colors numbers or past or

words for colors numbers or past or future tenses the language of the

future tenses the language of the

future tenses the language of the isolated pirahã people of Brazil it is

isolated pirahã people of Brazil it is

isolated pirahã people of Brazil it is the only remaining dialect of the Mura

the only remaining dialect of the Mura

the only remaining dialect of the Mura language which once had a robust

language which once had a robust

language which once had a robust speaking population of between thirty

speaking population of between thirty

speaking population of between thirty and sixty thousand but has dwindled to

and sixty thousand but has dwindled to

and sixty thousand but has dwindled to just about 300 native speakers number

just about 300 native speakers number

just about 300 native speakers number four Basque really lingual tasting some

four Basque really lingual tasting some

four Basque really lingual tasting some be very nice conservative wood Dada

be very nice conservative wood Dada

be very nice conservative wood Dada a language isolate Basque is its own

a language isolate Basque is its own

a language isolate Basque is its own language family and there is nothing

language family and there is nothing

language family and there is nothing else like it in the world

else like it in the world

else like it in the world Basque speakers are mainly found near

Basque speakers are mainly found near

Basque speakers are mainly found near the Western Pyrenees Mountains between

the Western Pyrenees Mountains between

the Western Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France predating almost all

Spain and France predating almost all

Spain and France predating almost all indo-european languages the origins of

indo-european languages the origins of

indo-european languages the origins of Basque are shrouded in mystery it was

Basque are shrouded in mystery it was

Basque are shrouded in mystery it was once even postulated that Basque dated

once even postulated that Basque dated

once even postulated that Basque dated back to prehistoric Europe based off the

back to prehistoric Europe based off the

back to prehistoric Europe based off the theory that many of the words for

theory that many of the words for

theory that many of the words for various tools contained the root word

various tools contained the root word

various tools contained the root word for stone suggesting a Stone Age

for stone suggesting a Stone Age

for stone suggesting a Stone Age beginning this is now known as the ice

beginning this is now known as the ice

beginning this is now known as the ice kora controversy and widely debated the

kora controversy and widely debated the

kora controversy and widely debated the language was strongly discouraged during

language was strongly discouraged during

language was strongly discouraged during the Franco regime in Spain but in the

the Franco regime in Spain but in the

the Franco regime in Spain but in the 1960s measures were taken to strengthen

1960s measures were taken to strengthen

1960s measures were taken to strengthen this ancient language number three Welsh

[Music]

[Music] developing out of common brittonic and

developing out of common brittonic and

developing out of common brittonic and likely arriving in Britain during either

likely arriving in Britain during either

likely arriving in Britain during either the bronze or the iron age this insular

the bronze or the iron age this insular

the bronze or the iron age this insular Celtic tongue has enjoyed a revival

Celtic tongue has enjoyed a revival

Celtic tongue has enjoyed a revival thanks in large part to grassroot

thanks in large part to grassroot

thanks in large part to grassroot efforts to reclaim the language like

efforts to reclaim the language like

efforts to reclaim the language like many Celtic languages by the 20th

many Celtic languages by the 20th

many Celtic languages by the 20th century the populations of native

century the populations of native

century the populations of native speakers were dwindling sharply in large

speakers were dwindling sharply in large

speakers were dwindling sharply in large part due to Old English laws and

part due to Old English laws and

part due to Old English laws and practices that sought to wipe them out

practices that sought to wipe them out

practices that sought to wipe them out in 2011

in 2011

in 2011 the Welsh language measure granted this

the Welsh language measure granted this

the Welsh language measure granted this brittonic language official status just

brittonic language official status just

brittonic language official status just up the road from clan by the Queen go

up the road from clan by the Queen go

up the road from clan by the Queen go get it Quinn draw a Santa City oh go go

get it Quinn draw a Santa City oh go go

get it Quinn draw a Santa City oh go go go

go

go this makes it the only other official

this makes it the only other official

this makes it the only other official language in Britain outside of English

language in Britain outside of English

language in Britain outside of English some words are a bit tricky so you might

some words are a bit tricky so you might

some words are a bit tricky so you might need a little practice in order to

need a little practice in order to

need a little practice in order to achieve fluency however number two taw

one of the many Khoisan languages which

one of the many Khoisan languages which incorporate clicks taw is spoken by

incorporate clicks taw is spoken by

incorporate clicks taw is spoken by native peoples living in Botswana and to

native peoples living in Botswana and to

native peoples living in Botswana and to a much lesser degree Namibia it’s

a much lesser degree Namibia it’s

a much lesser degree Namibia it’s perhaps most famous for being the

perhaps most famous for being the

perhaps most famous for being the language with likely the most number of

language with likely the most number of

language with likely the most number of phonemes as it incorporates not only

phonemes as it incorporates not only

phonemes as it incorporates not only vowel and consonant sounds but also many

vowel and consonant sounds but also many

vowel and consonant sounds but also many clicks and tones within those clicks it

clicks and tones within those clicks it

clicks and tones within those clicks it is the closest living relative so to

is the closest living relative so to

is the closest living relative so to speak of the traditional South African

speak of the traditional South African

speak of the traditional South African which sadly is all but extinct with only

which sadly is all but extinct with only

which sadly is all but extinct with only three native speakers left as of 2013

three native speakers left as of 2013

three native speakers left as of 2013 despite its sound range taw is assembled

despite its sound range taw is assembled

despite its sound range taw is assembled in a common subject-verb-object

in a common subject-verb-object

in a common subject-verb-object agreement the sentence structure shared

agreement the sentence structure shared

agreement the sentence structure shared by many other languages including

by many other languages including

by many other languages including English French and Chinese come okay –

English French and Chinese come okay –

English French and Chinese come okay – okay – come okay to get a plate before

okay – come okay to get a plate before

okay – come okay to get a plate before we unveil our number one pick here are

we unveil our number one pick here are

we unveil our number one pick here are some honorable mentions

vodka the cocoa so it’s not contact it’s

vodka the cocoa so it’s not contact it’s genocide Seymour – it’s a matter of

genocide Seymour – it’s a matter of

genocide Seymour – it’s a matter of respect

respect

respect CSS profs if these people are they’re

CSS profs if these people are they’re

CSS profs if these people are they’re isolated in the forest

isolated in the forest

isolated in the forest why not respect their right to do this

why not respect their right to do this

why not respect their right to do this number one silbo go marrow this

number one silbo go marrow this

number one silbo go marrow this incredible language is composed entirely

incredible language is composed entirely

incredible language is composed entirely of whistles the rising and falling

of whistles the rising and falling

of whistles the rising and falling pitches replace words completely with

pitches replace words completely with

pitches replace words completely with the quick trills constructing full

the quick trills constructing full

the quick trills constructing full sentences in its native location on the

sentences in its native location on the

sentences in its native location on the Canary Islands the people developed it

Canary Islands the people developed it

Canary Islands the people developed it as a way to quickly send messages up and

as a way to quickly send messages up and

as a way to quickly send messages up and down the mountainous terrain okay can

down the mountainous terrain okay can

down the mountainous terrain okay can you do Tracey Tracey stuff done right it

you do Tracey Tracey stuff done right it

you do Tracey Tracey stuff done right it can be heard up to three miles away long

can be heard up to three miles away long

can be heard up to three miles away long before the days of cell phones it was a

before the days of cell phones it was a

before the days of cell phones it was a quick way to send invitations public

quick way to send invitations public

quick way to send invitations public announcements or just to ask if someone

announcements or just to ask if someone

announcements or just to ask if someone had seen persons X Y or Z of course

had seen persons X Y or Z of course

had seen persons X Y or Z of course everyone else can hear your message so

everyone else can hear your message so

everyone else can hear your message so maybe keep any mean tweets to yourself

maybe keep any mean tweets to yourself

maybe keep any mean tweets to yourself Oh soft you and squid and one two eight

Oh soft you and squid and one two eight

Oh soft you and squid and one two eight three do you agree with our picks check

three do you agree with our picks check

three do you agree with our picks check out these other great clips from

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