List of unclassified languages according to the Ethnologue

The following 73 languages are listed by the Ethnologue (16th edition) as unclassified languages, though in their descriptions some are identified with an established family, or have been retired as spurious. Since the 15th edition, several other unclassified languages were found to be related to known languages once better data was collected, and some, such as Amikoana and Miarrã, were found to be spurious and their ISO codes were retired. Languages which went extinct before 1950 are the purview of Linguist List and are being gradually removed from Ethnologue; these are listed as an addendum to this page.

1 Africa
2 Americas
- 2.1 North
- 2.2 South
3 Asia
4 Europe
5 Oceania
6 Languages maintained by Linguist List
7 External links

Africa

13 languages:

Bung language (Cameroon)
Gail language (a cant of South Africa)
Imeraguen language (Mauritania, Hassaniya-Soninke mix?)
Kara language (Central African Republic, Central Sudanic)
Kujarge language (Chad, Afroasiatic)
Laal language (Chad, isolate?)
Lufu language (Nigeria, Southern Jukunoid)
Luo language of Atta (Cameroon; not to be confused with the better-known Luo language)
Mawa language of Bauchi (Nigeria; not to be confused with the Mawa language of Chad)
Rer Bare language (Ethiopia, unattested)
Weyto language (Ethiopia, unattested)
~~Yauma language (Angola)~~ (an error, also classified as Ngangela)
Yeni language (Cameroon, Mambiloid)

Americas

North

4 languages:

Haitian Vodoun Culture language (Haiti)
Lenca language (Honduras)
~~Monimbo language (Nicaragua)~~ (in 2010 this was merged with Chorotega/Mangue, which is classified but has been moved to Linguist List)
Xinca language (Guatemala)

South

37 languages:

Abishira language (Peru)
~~Agavotaguerra language (Brazil)~~ (evidently one of the Paresi-Waura languages)
Aguano language (Peru)
Aikanã language (Brazil)
Cagua language (Colombia)
Carabayo language (Colombia)
Chipiajes language (Colombia)
Coxima language (Colombia)
Himarimã language (Brazil)
Iapama language (Brazil)
Kaimbé language (Brazil)
Kamba language (Brazil) (Brazil)
Kambiwá language (Brazil)
Kanoé language (Brazil)
Kapinawá language (Brazil)
Karahawyana language (Brazil)
Karirí-Xocó language (Brazil)
Kunza language (Chile)
Kwaza language (Brazil)
Mato Grosso Arara language (Brazil)
Natagaimas language (Colombia)
Pankararé language (Brazil)
~~Papavô language (Brazil)~~ (does not exist; entry retired in 2008 but remains in the unclassified list)
Pataxó Hã-Ha-Hãe language (Brazil)
Pijao language (Colombia)
Pumé (Venezuela)
Shenenawa (Brazil)
Tapeba language (Brazil)
Tingui-Boto language (Brazil)
Tremembé language (Brazil)
Truká language (Brazil)
Uamué language (Brazil)
Wakoná language (Brazil)
Wasu language (Brazil)
Xukurú language (Brazil)
Yarí language (Colombia)
Yuwana language (Venezuela)

Asia

7 languages:

~~Aariya language (India)~~ (apparently spurious; code retired)
Bhatola language (India)
Majhwar language (India, possible dialect of Asuri [Mundari])
Malakhel language (Afghanistan) (may be Ormuri)
Ná-Meo language (Vietnam)
Warduji language (Afghanistan, probably a dialect of Persian)
Waxianghua language (China, Hunanese-Miao mix?)

Europe

3 languages, all cants:

Oceania

9 languages:

Doso language (Papua New Guinea)
Kehu language (Irian Jaya, Indonesia)
Kembra language (Irian Jaya, Indonesia)
Lepki language (Irian Jaya, Indonesia)
Molof language (Irian Jaya, Indonesia)
Murkim language (Irian Jaya, Indonesia)
Namla language (Irian Jaya, Indonesia)
Tofanma language (Irian Jaya, Indonesia)
Usku language (Irian Jaya, Indonesia)

Languages maintained by Linguist List

These languages went extinct before 1950 and their codes are not, or are no longer, maintained by SIL. Maintenance of additional languages extinct before 1950 is being gradually shifted from SIL to Linguist List.

Africa

Meroitic language

America, North

America, South

Asia

Anatolia

Korea

Europe

Oceania