languageswhere

Languageswhere is a hypothetical online reference project designed to catalog information about human languages and their geographic distribution. The project envisions pages that describe each language’s classification, scripts, regional presence, and vitality, making it easier to compare languages across regions and families.

Core content includes language names, ISO codes, language family classification, scripts and orthographies, estimated speaker numbers, dialects, endangerment status, and maps showing regional distribution. Each language page links to related languages, regional profiles, and references.

Data are collected from established linguistic databases, regulatory classifications, and crowdsourced contributions. A provenance system tracks sources and revisions, and periodic reviews aim to improve accuracy. The project uses an open license to encourage reuse while requiring attribution.

Features include advanced search by region, language family, script, and vitality; interactive maps; language profiles with sample texts and bibliographic references; and an API for researchers and developers. Pages support multilingual display and community discussions to document changes.

Governance emphasizes transparency, community involvement, and respect for language communities. Contributions may require curator approval to ensure quality, and privacy considerations address the rights of speakers and communities.

Languageswhere is intended as a collaborative resource that complements existing catalogs, offering a flexible, interoperable layer of language data for education, fieldwork, and policy discussions. Related resources include Ethnologue, Glottolog, and UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger.