* No Official Census: There's no official census that tracks every language spoken in a city.
* Diversity and Fluidity: Sydney has a highly diverse population with people from many backgrounds and countries. This means there are many languages spoken, and the number is constantly changing as new people arrive and language use evolves.
* Definitions of "Language": Even defining what counts as a "language" can be complex. Do we include dialects, regional variations, and languages that are primarily spoken in the home?
However, we can give you some insights:
* The 2016 Australian Census: This found that over 250 languages were spoken in Sydney, with the top 5 being English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, and Vietnamese.
* High Linguistic Diversity: Sydney is considered a highly linguistically diverse city, with many languages spoken beyond those listed in the census.
* Ongoing Change: The number of languages spoken in Sydney is constantly evolving, with new arrivals and the growth of language communities.
So, while we can't provide a precise number, we know that Sydney is a vibrant melting pot of languages, reflecting its diverse and multicultural population.