Editing Languages of Asia

{{Short description|none}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2016}}
[[File:Language families of modern Asia.png|thumb|400px|The Language families of Asia]]
[[Asia]] is home to hundreds of languages comprising several families and some unrelated isolates. The most spoken language families on the continent include [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic]], [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]], [[Japonic languages|Japonic]], [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]], [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]], [[Afroasiatic languages|Afroasiatic]], [[Turkic languages|Turkic]], [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]], [[Kra–Dai languages|Kra–Dai]] and [[Koreanic]]. Many '''languages of Asia''', such as [[Old Chinese|Chinese]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Arabic]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]] or [[Telugu language|Telugu]], have a long history as a written language.

==Language groups==
[[File:Ethnolinguisticswasiacia.jpg|thumb|300px|Ethnolinguistic distribution in Central/Southwest Asia of the [[Altaic languages|Altaic]], [[Caucasian languages|Caucasian]], [[Afroasiatic languages|Afroasiatic]] (Hamito-Semitic) and [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] families.]]

The major families in terms of numbers are [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]], specifically [[Indo-Aryan languages]] and [[Dravidian languages]] in [[South Asia]]; and [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] in [[East Asia]]. Several other families are regionally dominant.

===Sino-Tibetan===
{{main|Sino-Tibetan languages}}

Sino-Tibetan includes [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Tibetic languages|Tibetan]], [[Burmese language|Burmese]], [[S’gaw Karen language|Karen]], [[Boro language (India)|Boro]] and numerous languages of the Tibetan Plateau, Southern China, Myanmar, and North East India.

===Indo-European===
{{Main|Indo-European languages}}
The [[Indo-European languages]] are primarily represented in Asia by the [[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian branch]], with its two main subgroups: [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]] and [[Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]].

Indo-Aryan languages are mainly spoken in South Asia. Examples include languages such as [[Hindustani language|Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu)]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Rajasthani language|Rajasthani]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]],  [[Sylheti language|Sylheti]] etc.<!--this is deliberately a very short list: includes only languages with > 50 million speakers-->)

[[Iranian languages|Iranic]] languages are mainly spoken in [[Iran]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Pakistan]] and neighboring regions. Examples include languages like [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Kurdish languages|Kurdish]], [[Pashto]] and [[Balochi language|Balochi]] which are spoken in

In addition, other branches of Indo-European spoken in Asia include the [[Slavic languages|Slavic]] branch, which includes [[Russian language|Russian]] in [[Siberia]]; [[Greek language|Greek]] around the [[Black Sea]]; and [[Armenian language|Armenian]]; as well as extinct languages such as [[Hittite language|Hittite]] of Anatolia and [[Tocharian language|Tocharian]] of (Chinese) Turkestan.

===Altaic families===
{{main|Altaic languages}}

A number of smaller, but important and separately distinguished language families spread across central and northern Asia have long been linked in a hypothetical, controversial and unproven Altaic family. These are the [[Turkic languages|Turkic]], [[Mongolic languages|Mongolic]], [[Tungusic languages|Tungusic]] (including [[Manchu language|Manchu]]), [[Koreanic languages|Koreanic]], and [[Japonic languages|Japonic]] languages. But since the mid-20th century a majority of scholars have come to regard it as a [[Sprachbund]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Starostin |first=George |author-link=Georgiy Starostin |encyclopedia=Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Linguistics |title=Altaic Languages |url=https://oxfordre.com/linguistics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.001.0001/acrefore-9780199384655-e-35 |access-date=2023-07-11 |language=en |date=2016-04-05 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-938465-5 |doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780199384655.013.35|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=De la Fuente |first=José Andrés Alonso |year=2016 |title=Review of Robbeets, Martine (2015): Diachrony of verb morphology. Japanese and the Transeurasian languages |url=https://www.academia.edu/30240029 |journal=Diachronica |volume=33 |issue=4 |pages=530–537 |doi=10.1075/dia.33.4.04alo |quote=For now, shared material between Transeurasian [i.e. Altaic] languages is undoubtedly better explained as the result of language contact. But if researchers provide cogent evidence of genealogical relatedness, that will be the time to re-evaluate old positions. That time, however, has not yet come.}}</ref>

===Austroasiatic===
{{main|Austroasiatic languages}}

The Mon–Khmer languages (also known as Austroasiatic) are the language family in South and Southeast Asia. Languages given official status are [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] and [[Khmer language|Khmer]] (Cambodian).

===Kra–Dai===
{{main|Kra–Dai languages}}

The [[Kra–Dai languages]] (also known as Tai-Kadai) are found in southern China, Northeast India and Southeast Asia. Languages given official status are [[Thai language|Thai]] (Siamese) and [[Lao language|Lao]].

===Austronesian===
{{main|Austronesian languages}}

The [[Austronesian languages]] are widespread throughout [[Maritime Southeast Asia]], including major languages such as [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] ([[Indonesia]] and [[Timor-Leste]]), [[Fijian language|Fijian]] ([[Fiji]]), [[Ilonggo language|Hiligaynon]], [[Bicolano language|Bikol]], [[Ilocano language|Ilocano]], [[Cebuano language|Cebuano]], [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] ([[Philippines]]), and [[Malay language|Malay]] ([[Brunei]], [[Malaysia]], and [[Singapore]]). Other significant Austronesian languages in Indonesia include [[Javanese language|Javanese]], [[Sundanese language|Sundanese]], and [[Madurese language|Madurese]]. Meanwhile, Indonesian is the most widely spoken language in the Austronesian family.

===Dravidian===
{{main|Dravidian languages}}

The Dravidian languages of [[South India]] and parts of [[Sri Lanka]] include [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Kannada]], [[Malayalam]] and [[Tulu language|Tulu]], while smaller languages such as [[Gondi language|Gondi]] and [[Brahui language|Brahui]] are spoken in central India and Pakistan respectively.

===Afro-Asiatic===
{{main|Semitic languages}}

The [[Afroasiatic languages]] (in older sources Hamito-Semitic) are represented in Asia by the [[Semitic languages|Semitic branch]]. Semitic languages are spoken in [[Western Asia]], and include the various dialects of [[Arabic]] and [[Neo-Aramaic language|Aramaic]], [[Modern Hebrew]], and [[Modern South Arabian languages]] in addition to extinct languages such as [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] and [[Ancient South Arabian]].

===Siberian families===
{{main|Paleosiberian languages}}

Besides the Altaic families already mentioned (of which [[Tungusic languages|Tungusic]] is today a minor family of Siberia), there are a number of small language families and isolates spoken across northern Asia. These include the [[Uralic languages]] of western Siberia (better known for Hungarian and Finnish in Europe), the [[Yeniseian languages]] ([[Dené–Yeniseian languages|linked]] to Turkic and to the Athabaskan languages of North America), [[Yukaghir languages|Yukaghir]], [[Nivkh language|Nivkh]] of Sakhalin, [[Ainu languages|Ainu]] of northern Japan, [[Chukotko-Kamchatkan languages|Chukotko-Kamchatkan]] in easternmost Siberia, and—just barely—[[Eskimo–Aleut languages|Eskimo–Aleut]]. Some linguists have noted that the [[Koreanic languages]] share more similarities with the [[Paleosiberian languages]] than with the [[Altaic languages]]. The extinct [[Rouran language|Rouran]] language of Mongolia is unclassified, and does not show genetic relationships with any other known language family.

===Caucasian families===
{{main|Languages of the Caucasus}}

Three small families are spoken in the [[Caucasus]]: [[Kartvelian languages]], such as [[Georgian language|Georgian]]; [[Northeast Caucasian languages|Northeast Caucasian]] (Dagestanian languages), such as [[Chechen language|Chechen]]; and [[Northwest Caucasian languages|Northwest Caucasian]], such as [[Circassian language|Circassian]]. The latter two may be related to each other. The extinct [[Hurro-Urartian languages]] may be related as well.

===Small families of Asia===
Although dominated by major languages and families, there are number of minor families and isolates in [[South Asia]] and [[Southeast Asia]]. From west to east, these include:

*[[Hattic language|Hattic]], an unclassified language in Anatolia.
*extinct languages of the [[Fertile Crescent]] such as [[Sumerian language|Sumerian]] and [[Elamite language|Elamite]].
*extinct languages of South Asia; mainly the unclassified [[Harappan language]]
*small language families and isolates of the [[Indian subcontinent]]: [[Burushaski]], [[Kusunda language|Kusunda]], and [[Nihali language|Nihali]]. The [[Vedda language|Vedda]] language of [[Sri Lanka]] is likely an isolate that has mixed with [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]].
*the two [[Andamanese languages|Andamanese]] language families: [[Great Andamanese languages|Great Andamanese]] and [[Ongan languages|Ongan]]; [[Sentinelese language|Sentinelese]] remains undocumented to date, and hence unclassified.
*unclassified languages in Southeast Asia: [[Kenaboi language|Kenaboi]].
*the difficult to classify [[Language isolates and independent language families in Arunachal|Arunachal languages]]: [[Digaro languages|Digaro]], [[Hrusish languages|Hrusish]] (including the [[Miji languages]]<ref name="Blench2015">Blench, Roger. 2015. [https://www.academia.edu/12657496/The_Mijiic_languages_distribution_dialects_wordlist_and_classification ''The Mijiic languages: distribution, dialects, wordlist and classification'']. m.s.</ref>), [[Midzu languages|Midzu]], [[Puroik language|Puroik]], [[Siangic languages|Siangic]], and [[Kho-Bwa languages|Kho-Bwa]].
*[[Hmong–Mien languages|Hmong–Mien]] (Miao–Yao) scattered across southern China and Southeast Asia
*a few "[[Papuan languages|Papuan]]" (Non-Austronesian) families of the central and eastern Malay Archipelago: such as the [[Timor-Alor-Pantar languages|Timor-Alor-Pantar]] and [[North Halmahera languages|North Halmahera]] languages, and the little known extinct [[Tambora language]] of [[Sumbawa]]. Numerous additional families are spoken in Indonesian [[New Guinea]], which is generally considered to part of [[Oceania]].

===Creoles and pidgins===
{{main|Creole languages|Pidgin language}}

The eponymous [[Chinese Pidgin English|pidgin]] ("business") language developed with European trade in China. Of the many creoles to have developed, the most spoken today are [[Chavacano]], a [[Spanish-based creole]] of the Philippines, and various [[Malay-based creoles]] such as [[Manado Malay]] influenced by [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]. A very well-known Portuguese-based creole is the [[Kristang language|Kristang]], which is spoken in [[Malacca]], a city-state in [[Malaysia]].

===Sign languages===
{{main|Sign language|List of sign languages#Asia/Pacific}}

A number of sign languages are spoken throughout Asia. These include the [[Japanese Sign Language family]], [[Chinese Sign Language]], [[Indo-Pakistani Sign Language]], as well as a number of small indigenous sign languages of countries such as [[Nepali Sign Language|Nepal]], [[Thailand]], and [[Vietnamese sign languages|Vietnam]]. Many official sign languages are part of the [[French Sign Language family]].

==Official languages==
{{main|List of official languages by state}}
Asia and Europe are the only two continents where most countries use native languages as their [[official languages]], though English is also widespread as an international language.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Language
!Native name
!data-sort-type="number"|Total Speakers
!Language family
!Official status in a country
!Official status in a region
|-
| [[Saraiki language|Saraiki]]|| سرائیکی || 28,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]]|| ||[[Saraikistan]]
|-
| [[Altai language|Altai]] || Алтай тил || 57,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || || [[Russia]]
*[[Altai Republic]]
|-
| [[Arabic]] || {{lang|ar|العَرَبِيَّة}} || 313,000,000 || [[Afro-Asiatic]] || [[Bahrain]]<br>[[Iraq]]<br>[[Jordan]]<br>[[Kuwait]]<br>[[Lebanon]]<br>[[Oman]]<br>[[Palestine (region)|Palestine]]<br>[[Qatar]]<br>[[Saudi Arabia]]<br>[[Syria]]<br>[[UAE]]<br>[[Yemen]] ||[[Israel]] (special status)
|-
| [[Armenian language|Armenian]] || {{lang|hy|հայերեն}} || 5,902,970  || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Armenia]]||
|-
| [[Assamese language|Assamese]] || {{lang|as|অসমীয়া}}|| 15,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || ||[[India]] 
*[[Assam]]
|-
| [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]] || Azərbaycanca
آذربایجان دیلی <br> تۆرکجه
 || 28,000,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] ||[[Azerbaijan]] || [[Iran]]
* [[Whole Azerbaijan|South Azerbaijan]]

[[Russia]]

* [[Dagestani Azerbaijanis|Dagestan]] ''(mostly in [[Derbent]])''
|-
|[[Balochi language|Balochi]]
|بلۏچی
Balòči
|7,600,000
|[[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]]
|
|[[Pakistan]]
* [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]]
[[Iran]]
* [[Sistan and Baluchestan Province|Sistan and Baluchestan]] ''(Recognised)''
|-
|[[Balti language|Balti]]
|بلتی
སྦལ་ཏི།
|392,800
|[[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]]
|
|[[Pakistan]]

* [[Gilgit Baltistan]]
|- 
| [[Bengali language|Bengali]] || {{lang|bn|বাংলা}} || 230,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Bangladesh]] || |[[India]] 
*[[Barak Valley]], [[Assam]] (''Additional'')
*[[Jharkhand]] (''Recognised'')
*[[Tripura]]
*[[West Bengal]]
|-
| [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] ||भोजपुरी || 50,579,447 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Nepal]], [[India]]|| [[Nepal]]
* [[Madhesh|Province 2]], [[Parsa District|Parsa]], Bara

[[India]]

* [[Jharkhand]]
* [[Bihar]]
* Uttar Pradesh
|-
| [[Central Bikol language|Bikol]] || Bikol<br>Bikol Naga || 4,300,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || |[[Philippines]] 
*[[Bicol Region]]
|-
| [[Bodo language|Bodo]] || बर'/बड़<br>Boro || 1,984,569 || [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || |[[Nepal]]
[[India]] 
*[[Bodoland]], [[Assam]]
*[[West Bengal]]
|-
| [[Burmese language|Burmese]] || {{lang|my|မြန်မာဘာသာ}} || 33,000,000|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || [[Myanmar]] ||
|-
| [[Cantonese|Cantonese (Yue) Language]] || {{zh|廣東話/广东话|labels=no}} || 110,000,000|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || [[China]]
*[[Hong Kong]]
*[[Macau]]
|-
| [[Buryat language|Buryat]] || Буряад хэлэн<br>{{MongolUnicode|ᠪᠤᠷᠢᠶᠠᠳ<br>ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ<br>ᠬᠡᠯᠡᠨ}} || 440,000 || [[Mongolic languages|Mongolic]] || || [[Russia]]
*[[Buryatia]]
|-
| [[Cebuano language|Cebuano]] || Bisaya<br>Binisaya<br>Sinugbuanong_Binisaya<br>Sebwano/Sinebwano || 27,500,000|| [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || [[Philippines]]
*[[Central Visayas]]
*[[Eastern Visayas]]
*[[Northern Mindanao]]
*[[Davao Region]]
|-
| [[Chhattisgarhi language|Chhattisgarhi]] ||छत्तीसगढ़ी || 17,983,446 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || || [[India]]
*[[Chhattisgarh]] (''Additional'')
|-
| [[Kuki-Chin languages|Chin]] || Kukish || 3,000,000|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || [[Myanmar]]
*[[Chin State]] 
|-
| [[Standard Chinese|Chinese Mandarin]] || {{zh|普通話/普通话<br>國語/国语<br>華語/华语|labels=no}} || 1,300,000,000 || [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] ||[[China]]<br>[[Singapore]]<br>[[Taiwan]]||[[Myanmar]]
* [[Kokang]]
* [[Wa State]]
|-
| [[Dari]] ||{{lang|prs|دری}} || 33,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Afghanistan]] ||
|-
| [[Maldivian language|Dhivehi]] || {{lang|dv|ދިވެހިބަސް}} || 400,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Maldives]] ||
|-
| [[Dzongkha]] || {{lang|dz|རྫོང་ཁ་}} || 600,000 || [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || [[Bhutan]] ||
|-
| [[Filipino language|Filipino]] ([[Tagalog language|Tagalog]]) || Wikang Filipino || 106,000,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || [[Philippines]] ||
|-
| [[Formosan languages|Formosan]] ||  || 171,855 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || | [[Republic of China]]
*[[Taiwan]]
|-
| [[Georgian language|Georgian]] || {{lang|ka|ქართული}} || 4,200,000 || [[Kartvelian languages|Kartvelian]] || [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] ||
|-
| [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] || ગુજરાતી || 50,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || || |[[India]]
*[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]
*[[Gujarat]]
|-
| [[Taiwanese Hakka|Hakka]]|| 客家話/客家话<br>Hak-kâ-fa || 2,370,000 || [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || | [[Republic of China]]
*[[Taiwan]]
|-
| [[Modern Hebrew|Hebrew]] || {{lang|he|עברית}} || 7,000,000 || [[Afro-Asiatic]] || [[Israel]] ||
|-
| [[Hindi]] || हिन्दी || 615,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] ||[[India]]||
|-
| [[Hiligaynon language|Hiligaynon]] || Hiligaynon<br>Ilonggo<br>Hiniligaynon/Inilonggo || 9,100,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || |[[Philippines]]
*[[Western Visayas]]
|-
| [[Matsu dialect|Hokchiu]]|| {{zh|馬祖話<br>Mā-cū-huâ|labels=no}} || 12,000 || [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || | [[Republic of China]]
*[[Matsu Islands|Matsu]], [[Fujian Province, Republic of China|Fukien]] (''de facto'')
|-
| [[Taiwanese Hokkien|Hokkien]]|| {{zh|臺灣話<br>Tâi-oân-oē|labels=no}} || 18,570,000 || [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || | [[Republic of China]]
*[[Taiwan]] (''de facto'')
|-
| [[Ibanag language|Ibanag]] || Ibanag || 500,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || [[Philippines]]
*[[Cagayan Valley Region|Cagayan Valley]]
|-
| [[Ilocano language|Ilocano]] || Pagsasao nga Ilokano || 11,000,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || [[Philippines]] 
*[[Northern Luzon]]
*[[Central Luzon]]
|-
| [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] || Bahasa Indonesia || 270,000,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || [[Indonesia]] <br> [[Timor Leste]] (''Working languages'') ||
|-
| [[Japanese language|Japanese]] || {{lang|ja|日本語}} || 120,000,000 || [[Japonic]] || [[Japan]] (''de facto'')  ||
|-
| [[Javanese language|Javanese]] || {{lang|jv|Basa Jawa<br />{{Script|Java|ꦧꦱꦗꦮ}}<br />{{Script|Arab|بَاسَا جَاوَا}}}} || 80,000,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || [[Indonesia]]
*[[Special Region of Yogyakarta]]
*[[Central Java]]
*[[East Java]]
[[Suriname]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[New Caledonia]]
*Javanese is also spoken by traditional immigrant communities of Javanese descent
|-
| [[Jingpho language|Kachin]] || Jinghpaw || 940,000|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || [[Myanmar]]
*[[Kachin State]]
|-
| [[Kannada]] || ಕನ್ನಡ || 51,000,000|| [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] || || [[India]] 
*[[Karnataka]]
|-
| [[Kapampangan language|Kapampangan]] || Kapampangan/Pampangan || 2,800,000|| [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || [[Philippines]] 
*[[Central Luzon]]
|-
| [[S'gaw Karen language|Karen]] || ကညီကျိာ်း || 6,000,000|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || [[Myanmar]]
*[[Kayin State]] 
|-
|[[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]]
|कॉशुर
كٲشُر
|7,000,000
|[[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]]
|
|[[India]]
*[[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
|-
| [[Red Karen language|Kayah]] || Karenni || 190,000|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || [[Myanmar]]
*[[Kayah State]]
|-
| [[Karakalpak language|Karakalpak]] || Qaraqalpaqsha || 870,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || || [[Uzbekistan]]
*[[Karakalpakstan]]
|-
| [[Kazakh language|Kazakh]] || Qazaqsha || 18,000,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || [[Kazakhstan]] || [[China]]
*[[Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture]]
[[Russia]]
*[[Altai Republic]]
|-
| [[Khakas language|Khakas]] || Хакас тілі<br>Тадар тілі || 43,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || || [[Russia]]
*[[Khakassia]]
|-
| [[Khmer language|Khmer]] || {{lang|km|ភាសាខ្មែរ}} || 16,000,000 || [[Austroasiatic]] || [[Cambodia]] ||
|-
| [[Konkani language|Konkani]] || {{lang|kok|कोंकणी<br>ಕೊಂಕಣಿ}} || 2,300,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || || [[India]]
*[[Goa]]
*[[Maharashtra]] (''Recognized'')
*[[Karnataka]] (''Recognized'')
*[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]] (''Recognized'')
|-
| [[Korean language|Korean]] || {{lang|ko-KP|조선어}}<br>{{lang|ko-KR|한국어}} || 80,000,000 || [[Koreanic]] || [[North Korea]]<br>[[South Korea]] || [[China]]
*[[Changbai Korean Autonomous County]]
*[[Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture]]
|-
| [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]] || Kurdî<br>{{lang|ckb|کوردی}} || 32,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] ||  ||[[Middle east]]
*[[Great Kurdistan]]
|-
| [[Kyrgyz language|Kyrgyz]] || Кыргызча<br>{{lang|ar|قىرعىزچا}} || 7,300,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || [[Kyrgyzstan]] || [[China]]
*[[Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture]]
|-
| [[Lao language|Lao]]|| {{lang|lo|ພາສາລາວ}} || 7,000,000 || [[Kra–Dai languages|Kra-Dai]] || [[Laos]] ||
|-
| [[Magahi language|Magahi]] ||मगही/मगधी || 12,706,825 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || || [[India]]
*[[Jharkhand]] (''Additional'')
|-
| [[Maguindanao language|Maguindanao]] || بس ماگینداناو
Maguindanaon
| 1,500,000 ||  [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || |[[Philippines]] 
*[[Bangsamoro Autonomous Region|Bangsamoro]]
*[[Soccsksargen]]
*[[Zamboanga Peninsula]]
|-
| [[Malay language|Malay]] || Bahasa Melayu<br>{{lang|ar|بهاس ملايو}} || 30,000,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || [[Brunei]]<br>[[Malaysia]]<br>[[Singapore]] || [[Indonesia]]
*Malay language in Indonesia is considered a regional language (''bahasa daerah''), on part with regional languages spoken in the regions of [[Sumatra]] and [[Kalimantan]]
|-
| [[Malayalam]] || മലയാളം || 37,000,000 ||[[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] || || [[India]]
*[[Kerala]]
*[[Lakshadweep]]
*[[Mahé, India|Mahé]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
|-
| [[Marathi language|Marathi]] || मराठी || 99,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || || [[India]]
*[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]]
*[[Goa]]
*[[Maharashtra]]
|-
| [[Maithili language|Maithili]] ||मैथिली || 34,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || ||
[[Nepal]]
*[[Madhesh Province]]
*[[Province No. 1]]
[[India]]
*[[Bihar]]
*[[Jharkhand]]
|-
| [[Meitei language|Meitei]] || ꯃꯤꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ<br>মৈতৈ<br>Manipuri || 2,000,000 || [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || |[[India]]
*[[Manipur]]
|-
| [[Mon language|Mon]] || {{lang|my|ဘာသာ မန်}} || 851,000 || [[Austroasiatic]] || || [[Myanmar]]
*[[Mon State]]
|-
| [[Mongolian language|Mongolian]] || Монгол хэл<br>{{MongolUnicode|ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ<br>ᠬᠡᠯᠡ}} || 5,200,000 || [[Mongolic languages|Mongolic]] || [[Mongolia]] || [[China]]
*[[Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region]]
|-
| [[Nagpuri language|Nagpuri]] ||नागपुरी/सादरी || 5,108,691 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || || [[India]]
*[[Jharkhand]] (''Additional'')
|-
| [[Nepali language|Nepali]] || नेपाली || 29,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Nepal]] || [[India]]
*[[Darjeeling district|Darjeeling]], [[West Bengal]] (''Additional'')
*[[Sikkim]]
|-
| [[Odia language|Odia]] || ଓଡ଼ିଆ || 35,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || || [[India]] 
*[[Odisha]] 
*[[Jharkhand]] (''Recognised'')
|-
| [[Okinawan language|Okinawan]] || 沖縄語 / うちなーぐち || 1,143,000 || [[Japonic]] || || [[Japan]] 
*[[Okinawa Prefecture]] 
|-
| [[Ossetian language|Ossetian]] || Ирон || 540,000<br>''<small>(50,000 in South Ossetia)</small>'' || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || ||[[North Ossetia–Alania]]
''[[South Ossetia]]''
|-
| [[Pangasinan language|Pangasinan]] || Pangasinan || 1,400,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || |[[Philippines]] 
*[[Ilocos Region]]
*[[Central Luzon]]
|-
| [[Pashto]] || {{lang|ps|پښتو}} || 100,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Afghanistan]] || [[Pakistan]]
*[[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]] (''Recognised'')
*[[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] (''Recognised'')
|-
| [[Persian language|Persian]] || {{lang|fa|فارسی}}|| 130,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Iran]] ||
|-
| [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] || ਪੰਜਾਬੀ<br>{{nq|پن٘جابی}}  || 113,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[India]]|| [[India]]
*[[Delhi]] (''Additional'')
*[[Haryana]] (''Additional'')
*[[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
*[[West Bengal]] (''Additional'')
[[Pakistan]]
*[[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]]
|-
| [[Arakanese language|Rakhine]] || {{lang|my|ရခိုင်ဘာသာ}} || 1,000,000|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || [[Myanmar]]
*[[Rakhine State]] 
|-	
| [[Rohingya language|Rohingya]] || {{lang|rhg|Ruáingga}} ||1,800,000||[[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]]|| || 	
*[[United Nations|U.N. refugee camps]]
*[[Myanmar]]	
*[[Rakhine State]]
|-
| [[Russian language|Russian]] || Русский|| 260,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Kazakhstan]] (''co-official'')<br>[[Kyrgyzstan]] (''co-official'')[[Russia]]
| 
|-
| [[Santali language|Santali]] || ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ || 7,600,000 || [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic]] || || [[India]]
*[[West Bengal]] (''Additional'')
*[[Jharkhand]]
(''Additional'')
|-
| [[Shan language|Shan]] || {{lang|shn|ၽႃႇသႃႇတႆ}} || 3,295,000 || [[Kra–Dai languages|Kra-Dai]] || || [[Myanmar]]
*[[Shan State]]
|-
| [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]] || {{lang|ar|سنڌي}} || 40,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[India]] || [[Pakistan]]
*[[Sindh]]
|-
| [[Sinhala language|Sinhala]] || {{lang|si|සිංහල}} || 18,000,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Sri Lanka]] ||
|-
| [[Tajik language|Tajik]] || Тоҷикӣ || 7,900,000 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Tajikistan]] ||
|-
| [[Tamil language|Tamil]] || {{lang|ta|தமிழ்}} || 88,000,000|| [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] || [[Singapore]]<br>[[Sri Lanka]]<br> || [[India]]
*[[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
*[[Tamil Nadu]]
|-
| [[Tausug language|Tausug]] || بَهَسَ سُوگ
Bahasa Suluk
| 1,200,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || |[[Philippines]] 
*[[Bangsamoro Autonomous Region|Bangsamoro]] 
*[[Mimaropa]] 
*[[Zamboanga Peninsula]]
[[Malaysia]]
*[[Sabah]]
|-
| [[Telugu language|Telugu]] || తెలుగు || 86,000,000|| [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] || || [[India]]
*[[Andhra Pradesh]]
*[[Telangana]]
*[[Yanam]], [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]]
|-
| [[Tetum language|Tetum]] ||Lia-Tetun || 500,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || [[Timor Leste]] || |[[Indonesia]] 
*[[East Nusa Tenggara]]
|-
| [[Thai language|Thai]] || {{lang|th|ภาษาไทย}} || 60,000,000 || [[Kra–Dai languages|Kra-Dai]] || [[Thailand]] ||
|-
| [[Standard Tibetan|Tibetan]] || {{lang|bo|བོད་སྐད་}} || 1,172,940|| [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || || [[China]]
*[[Tibet Autonomous Region]]
|-
| [[Kokborok|Tripuri]] || Tripuri || 3,500,000 || [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] || ||[[India]]
*[[Tripura]]
|-
| [[Tulu language|Tulu]] || {{lang|tcy-Knda|ತುಳು}} || 1,722,768 || [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] || || [[India]]
*[[Karnataka]] (''Recognised'')
*[[Kerala]] (''Recognised'')
|-
| [[Turkish language|Turkish]] || Türkçe || 88,000,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || [[Turkey]]<br>[[Cyprus]] ||
|-
| [[Turkmen language|Turkmen]] || Türkmençe || 7,000,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || [[Turkmenistan]] ||
|-
| [[Tuvan language|Tuvan]] || Тыва дыл || 240,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || || [[Russia]]
*[[Tuva]]
|-
| [[Urdu]] || {{nq|اُردُو}} || 62,120,540 || [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] || [[Pakistan]] || [[India]]
*[[Bihar]] (''Recognised in 15 districts'')
*[[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
*[[Jharkhand]] (''Recognised'')
*[[National Capital Territory of Delhi]] (''Additional'')
*[[Telangana]] (''Additional'')
*[[Andhra Pradesh]] (''Additional'')
*[[Uttar Pradesh]] (''Additional'')
*[[West Bengal]] (''Additional'')
|-
| [[Uyghur language|Uyghur]] || {{Lang|ar|ئۇيغۇرچە}} || 10,416,910 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || || [[China]]
*[[Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region]]
|-
| [[Uzbek language|Uzbek]] || Oʻzbekcha<br>Ўзбекча || 45,000,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || [[Uzbekistan]] ||
|-
| [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] || 㗂越
Tiếng Việt
| 86,500,000 || [[Austroasiatic]] || [[Vietnam]] (''de facto'') ||
|-
| [[Waray language|Waray]] || Winaray/Waray || 4,000,000 || [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] || || [[Philippines]]
*[[Eastern Visayas]]
|-
| [[Yakut language|Yakut]] || Саха тыла || 450,000 || [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] || || [[Russia]]
*[[Yakutia]]
|-
| [[Standard Zhuang|Zhuang]] || Vahcuengh || 16,000,000 || [[Kra–Dai languages|Kra-Dai]] || || [[China]]
*[[Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region]]
*[[Wenshan Prefecture]], [[Yunnan]]
|-
|}

==See also==
{{portal| Asia | Language }}
{{div col}}
* [[Asian studies]]
* [[Asianic languages]]
* [[Classification schemes for Southeast Asian languages]]
* [[East Asian languages]]
* [[Languages of South Asia]]
* [[List of extinct languages of Asia]]
{{end div col}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Asia topic|Languages of}}
{{Eurasian languages}}
{{Countries and languages lists}}
{{Asia topics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Languages Of Asia}}
[[Category:Languages of Asia| ]]