How many languages were there before the Tower of Babel was built?

The story of the Tower of Babel in the Book of Genesis is a myth, not a historical account. It's impossible to know how many languages existed before a fictional event.

The story itself is a parable about the dangers of human pride and the importance of unity. It uses the metaphor of language to illustrate the consequences of division and misunderstanding.

The existence of multiple languages is a natural phenomenon that predates the Tower of Babel story. Languages evolve and diversify over time, and there have been countless languages throughout history.