Some of the newest languages in the world are only 50 years old

Most languages have been around for hundreds or even thousands of years. They reflect the cultures, traditions, and histories of those who speak them, changing subtly through the generations. 

With enough changes, even the oldest languages can be transformed, turning into some of the newest languages in the world within a few millennia.    

New languages often develop when groups of people are isolated or when cultures mix and adapt to new environments.  

This phenomenon usually begins with groups who speak different languages coming into contact during trade, colonisation, or migration.

The groups will blend words, phrases and structures from different languages, creating a simplified purpose for communication called a “pidgin” language. If a pidgin spreads and children start learning it as their first language, it will then become a “creole” language — a new, fully developed language.

An example of this is Haitian Creole, which came about from blending French and African languages during the 17th and 18th centuries when French-speaking colonisers interacted with African slaves brought to Haiti.

Today, about 95% of the Haitian population speaks Haitian Creole, which has become one of the country’s official languages. 

Tamil is considered one of the oldest languages in the world, with some evidence suggesting it could be over 10,000 years old. Source: AFP

What is the oldest language in the world?

Before we look at the newest languages in the world, let’s take a look at the oldest. 

Tamil is considered one of the oldest surviving languages in the world, with a history that goes back thousands of years.

Today, it is spoken by around 78 million people and is an official language in India, Sri Lanka, and Singapore. This Dravidian language, mainly spoken in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, has been passed down through centuries.

Unlike many ancient languages that have faded over time, Tamil has continuously evolved and adapted while maintaining its structure and vocabulary.

Archaeologists have discovered inscriptions written in Tamil dating back to the 3rd century BC — proof that this language has not only survived globalisation, but has thrived despite of it all.

The language of Gen Z

One of the newer languages on the rise is the language of Gen Z.

Words and phrases like “ghosting,” “slay,” “GOAT,” “no cap,” and “vibe” have become common. Starting as internet slang and turning into widely recognised expressions. 

Even the Oxford English Dictionary has started to recognise some of these terms, adding words like “stan” and “savage” into their vocabulary due to how commonly used they are and their cultural significance. 

Like how most new languages are developed by borrowing from existing languages and adapting them to new contexts, Gen Z slang takes familiar words and gives them new meanings.

For example, “slay” once meant to defeat or kill, but now it’s commonly used as a term of approval or encouragement.

6 newest languages in the world 

1. Light Warlpiri

Light Warlpiri is known to be one of the newest languages in the world. It was created in the 1980s within the Indigenous community of Lajamanu in Northern Australia. 

While it contains elements of traditional Warlpiri, Kriol, and Australian English, Light Warlpiri has its own distinct grammatical structure and vocabulary, setting it apart from any other language.

Australian linguist Carmel O’Shannessy first documented Light Warlpiri while working with the University of Michigan, realising it was an entirely new linguistic form that had emerged within the community.

Today, Light Warlpiri is spoken by around 350 people, with many of its speakers being under the age of 40 – that’s how new the language is. Speakers of the language tend to use it in informal, everyday contexts.

Esperanto was created to be a universal language that could be used for international communication. Source: AFP

2. Esperanto

Created in 1887, Esperanto is second on the list of the newest languages in the world. It was developed by Polish ophthalmologist and linguist L. L. Zamenhof. 

Unlike other languages that have naturally evolved, Esperanto is a “constructed” or “artificial” language designed to simplify international communication and promote unity among linguistic communities. 

Zamenhof envisioned a universal language that could bridge language barriers without favouring any particular nation. He aimed to create a simple, accessible language that could be easily learned and used by people worldwide. Most of Esperanto’s vocabulary derives from Romance languages, but it also contains elements derived from Germanic, Greek, and Slavic languages.

Since its inception over 130 years ago, Esperanto now has between 30,000 to 180,000 speakers. Today, Esperanto is popular in regions like East Asia, Europe, and South America, although it isn’t the official language of any country.

In 1894, Zamenhof introduced a revised version called “Reformed Esperanto” due to some criticisms of its structure. However, the project was eventually rejected by Esperanto’s speakers and, later, even by Zamenhof himself.

3. Ido

Reformed Esperanto might have been scrapped, but it did go on to inspire another of the newest languages in the world — Ido. 

Developed in the early 20th century, Ido, like Esperanto, was intended to be a universal, easy-to-learn language that could bring people of different nationalities together.

Linguists developed it to address inconsistencies in Esperanto’s grammar, vocabulary, and structure. They aimed to make Ido simpler, more intuitive, and more accessible than Esperanto, with hopes it would gain a strong international following.

However, Ido did not reach the global popularity its creators hoped for. Today, there are only 500 speakers worldwide, none of which are native speakers. 

Its community remains small, but supporters of Ido connect and learn through online platforms, including forums and language resources. These platforms encourage learners and speakers to practice, share ideas, and further develop the language, even though it has limited speakers.

Lingala is a Bantu language spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Republic of the Congo, as well as in neighboring countries. Source: AFP

4. Lingala

Lingala is one of the newest languages in the world, having emerged around the early 20th century. It developed along the Congo River in Central Africa and was influenced by the Bobangi language, a common trade language used by Bantu-speaking communities. 

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, as European traders and colonial forces moved through the region, these Bantu communities developed Lingala as a new form of communication to bridge linguistic gaps. Initially called “Bangala,” meaning “river people,” the language was later renamed as Lingala.

Though it is a new language, Lingala is spoken by around 40 million people, with around 15 million native speakers and 25 million second-language speakers. 

It is most commonly spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has spread to neighbouring regions like the Central African Republic and Angola due to migration, trade, and cultural exchange.

5. Gooniyandi

Gooniyandi, also known as Guniyandi, is one of Australia’s youngest Aboriginal languages and among the world’s newest languages. It is spoken in the remote community of Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Gooniyandi was initially created to facilitate trade and interaction among different tribes. However, over time, it has evolved into a fully developed language with its own structure and vocabulary. It was influenced by Bunuba, Kriol, and other Aboriginal languages.

Similar to many other Indigenous languages, Gooniyandi is already considered endangered.

Today, it only has around 100 speakers and is at risk of disappearing. Some local programmes have started teaching the language in schools, hoping to preserve it and keep it alive among younger generations. 

6. Afrikaans

Created in the 18th century, Afrikaans is one of the newest languages in the world. It originated from Dutch, German, and French settlers who established communities in South Africa in the century before.

As these European settlers began interacting with local communities and other cultures, the Dutch language they spoke evolved. It began to incorporate elements from indigenous African languages like Bantu, as well as Malay, Portuguese, and French. This blending and simplification of Dutch led to the development of Afrikaans.

Although Afrikaans is about 340 years old, it only gained official recognition in South Africa in the early 20th century.

Today, Afrikaans is one of South Africa’s 11 official languages, spoken by around seven million people as their first language and 10.5 million using it as a second language. Its simple grammar and vocabulary make it one of the easier languages to learn, even for non-native speakers.