* Defining a "language" is tricky: There's no universally agreed-upon definition. Is a dialect a separate language? What about creoles or sign languages?
* Constantly changing: Languages are dynamic, evolving, and dying out. New languages emerge, while others become extinct.
* Difficult to count: Many languages are spoken by small, isolated communities and haven't been documented or researched.
Estimates:
* Most conservative estimates: Around 7,000 languages
* More liberal estimates: Over 10,000 languages
So, while we can't pinpoint an exact number, it's safe to say there are thousands of languages spoken around the world!