* Defining "language" and "dialect" is tricky: The distinction between a language and a dialect is often based on mutual intelligibility, which can be subjective. Two groups might consider their speech varieties distinct languages, while others may see them as dialects of the same language.
* Constantly changing: Languages evolve and change over time. New dialects emerge, languages merge, and some languages unfortunately die out.
* Lack of comprehensive data: There isn't a single, globally accepted database that tracks all languages and dialects. Some estimates are based on limited data or specific criteria.
Estimates:
* Ethnologue: This resource is often cited, and its latest edition (2023) lists over 7,100 languages. However, this number only represents distinct languages, not dialects.
* Other estimates: Some researchers believe the number of languages and dialects could be much higher, potentially reaching tens of thousands, when considering the wide spectrum of language variation.
In conclusion: The number of languages and dialects spoken around the world is constantly fluctuating and difficult to pin down precisely.