How many language families are in the world?

There is no definitive answer to how many language families there are in the world. Linguists disagree on the classification and grouping of languages, and different sources provide varying numbers.

Here's why it's difficult to give a concrete number:

* Uncertainties in classification: Some language families are well-established, while others are less clear-cut. The relationships between languages within a family can be complex and debated.

* Uncategorized languages: There are still many languages that haven't been thoroughly studied and classified.

* Continuum languages: Some languages are part of a continuum where dialects gradually blend into one another, making it difficult to define distinct families.

Estimates:

* 100-200: This is a common estimate used by many sources.

* Over 300: Some linguists suggest that there are potentially more families, especially when considering less-studied languages.

Instead of focusing on a specific number, it's important to understand that language families represent a hierarchical system for organizing the diversity of human languages.