* Defining a "language" is tricky: There's no clear line between a language and a dialect. Some linguists might consider closely related dialects as separate languages, while others might consider them variations of the same language.
* New languages emerge, others die out: Languages constantly evolve and change, with new ones appearing and old ones disappearing.
* Undocumented languages: Many languages are spoken by small groups of people and haven't been documented or studied by linguists.
Estimates range widely:
* UNESCO estimates: They list about 7,100 languages.
* Ethnologue: This database lists over 7,100 languages, but it's important to note that this includes languages with only a few speakers and dialects.
The bottom line: While there are no definitive answers, it's safe to say there are thousands of languages spoken around the world, with many more potentially undocumented.