* Syllables are a fundamental unit of speech: They exist across almost all languages. Even languages with very different sound systems (like tonal languages) have syllables.
* Syllables are a natural feature of human language: They are likely a product of how our vocal cords and brains work, not a specific invention of any particular language.
* Language evolution is complex: Languages borrow from each other, and change over time. It's difficult to trace the exact origin of something as basic as syllables.
Instead of counting languages, we can think about the factors that shaped the concept of syllables:
* The human vocal apparatus: Our ability to produce different sounds (vowels and consonants) and the natural flow of air from the lungs creates the building blocks of syllables.
* The human brain's processing of sound: Our brains naturally organize speech into meaningful chunks, which we perceive as syllables.
* Universal language features: Across different languages, we see similar patterns in syllable structure (e.g., most languages prefer syllables with a vowel at the center).
In short: It's not about specific languages contributing, but rather the fundamental human capacity for speech, the way our brains process sound, and the universal features of language that led to the development of syllables.