* Defining a language is complex: There's no universally agreed-upon definition of what constitutes a distinct language versus a dialect.
* Languages are constantly evolving: New languages emerge, and some disappear.
* Data collection is challenging: Accurate and comprehensive data on all languages is difficult to gather, particularly for languages with small speaker populations.
However, estimates range widely. Some sources suggest there are around 7,000 languages, while others estimate over 10,000.
Ultimately, the number of spoken languages is a dynamic figure that is always changing.