* Number of speakers: This is a common metric, but it doesn't tell the whole story.
* Geographic distribution: Languages spoken across vast regions hold significant influence.
* Political and economic power: Languages associated with major countries often have a global impact.
* Cultural influence: Some languages have spread through literature, music, and film.
Here are some lists that could be considered, but there is no objective "top ten":
By number of native speakers:
1. Mandarin Chinese
2. Hindi
3. English
4. Spanish
5. Arabic
6. Bengali
7. Portuguese
8. Russian
9. Japanese
10. Punjabi
By number of total speakers:
1. English
2. Mandarin Chinese
3. Hindi
4. Spanish
5. Arabic
6. Bengali
7. Russian
8. Portuguese
9. Indonesian
10. Urdu
By influence in global communication:
1. English
2. Mandarin Chinese
3. Spanish
4. Arabic
5. Hindi
6. French
7. Russian
8. Portuguese
9. German
10. Japanese
Ultimately, the "major languages" vary depending on the criteria used. It's important to understand the context when encountering such lists.