Languages Facts for Kids
Weird and wonderful language facts
The Khmer script of Cambodia holds the Guinness World Record for the largest alphabet at 74 characters.
Scientists believe dolphins may have a language of their own β they use unique signature whistles like names.
Sound words are different in every language β a rooster says "cock-a-doodle-doo" in English but "kikeriki" in German.
Papua New Guinea has over 840 different languages β the most of any country on Earth. That means there is roughly one language for every 10,000 people.
The English word 'run' has over 600 different meanings in the Oxford English Dictionary, making it one of the most versatile words in the language.
Newborn babies can distinguish between the sounds of every language on Earth, but by the age of one they begin to lose the ability to hear differences not used in their own language.
Many ancient languages, including Homer's Greek, had no separate word for blue. The sea was often described as 'wine-dark' instead.
In English a cat says 'meow', but in Japanese it says 'nyan', and in Arabic it says 'nau nau'!
Some Khoisan languages of southern Africa use up to 100 different click consonants, produced by pulling the tongue sharply away from different parts of the mouth.
The Khmer alphabet used in Cambodia has 74 letters, making it the longest alphabet in the world.