The Languages of the World: A cartographic and statistical survey This thesis surveys the languages spoken in all the countries of the world. Using both explanatory text and maps to illustrate language situations, the thesis shows the complexity of language contact and language distribution throughout the world. An important part of this thesis is the discussion of the problems in creating maps which accurately represent the language situation in a country, and the difficulty in creating language contact maps. In using maps as an analytic tool, the thesis considers whether or not it possible to represent adequately changes in language use. Which languages will survive or die in future years, and what affects their chances of survival are considered in the concluding chapter. The thesis has six aims. The first aim was to look at current estimates of the number of languages spoken in the world, and the number of speakers; considering the problems involved in determining these figures. This is achieved in the second aim, which was to provide a comprehensive overview of the language situation in all countries, through the use of maps and explanatory text. The third aim is to look at how language data can be used to create accurate cartographic representations of language contact and language distribution. Fourthly, some of the problems involved in creating language maps are explored , both in gathering accurate data and presenting this information in a coherent and unambiguous way. The fifth aim of the thesis is to include a critical review of the sources available. The final aim of this thesis is to look at the factors which cause change in language situations, referring to the maps as a method of recording and predicting these changes. The thesis is organised into eleven chapters. The first chapter provides a broad picture of the number of languages spoken and considers the problems in trying to find an accurate total. In chapters two to ten, an outline of the language situation in every country of the world is provided. In particular, details are included such as; size of population, official language, number of minority languages -and the size of their population, language use, and also in many cases providing a brief historical background to the present language situation. In the concluding chapter, the problems of creating language maps, and their importance in analysing the dynamic nature of language are considered.