* Definition of "extinct": There's no clear consensus on what constitutes a truly "extinct" language. Some languages may have no known speakers, but have records and materials that could potentially be used to revive them.
* Lack of documentation: Many languages, particularly those spoken by smaller indigenous groups, were never documented in detail. Their existence is only known through oral traditions or limited archaeological evidence.
* Ongoing discovery: Linguistic research is constantly uncovering new information about languages, including extinct ones. As new discoveries are made, the number of extinct languages may change.
Estimates:
* Roughly 7,000 languages are thought to be spoken in the world today.
* Experts believe that over 90% of languages that have ever existed are now extinct.
While an exact number is elusive, the situation highlights the significant loss of linguistic diversity and cultural heritage.