Language isolate

A language isolate is a language with no clear relationship to or affinity with other languages. Unlike English, which is clearly related to other Germanic languages, or the various Chinese languages, isolates generally stand apart from their surrounding languages in terms of their phonology, grammar, and syntax. Examples include Basque, Ainu, Burushaski, and Japanese.

Isolate languages are often the subject of intensive studies in order to attempt proof of genetic relationships between languages. Basque, for instance, has been the subject of comparisons to the South Caucasian languages and the Indo-European language family.

Some languages are isolates because all the other languages in that language family have died. The Pirah� language of Brazil is one such language, the last language alive belonging to the Mura family. In contrast, there are languages whose relatives are spoken by communities a long distance away, because of past migrations. Such languages are not considered isolates.

Below is a list of known language isolates, along with notes on possible relations to other languages or language families:

Language Comments

Ainu Endangered language.

Basque No known relatives. Some linguists have attempted to show relationship with the Caucasian languages or Iberic.

Burushaski Little information available.

Etruscan Not well understood at present

Gilyak or Nivx. A Palaeosiberian language spoken in the lower Amur basin and on Sakhalin; Ainu is also spoken on Sakhalin.
Iberic There are lexical coincidences with Basque, but it is hard to know if they are more than a result of vicinity.

Ket No known relatives. Some linguists have attempted to show a relationship with Burushaski.

Japanese Very likely related to Korean language, though not yet proven. Connections to the Altaic languages have also been proposed.

Korean Very likely related to Japanese language, though not yet proven. Connections to the Altaic languages have also been proposed.

Language	Comments
Ainu	Endangered language.
Basque	No known relatives. Some linguists have attempted to show relationship with the Caucasian languages or Iberic.
Burushaski	Little information available.
Etruscan	Not well understood at present
Gilyak	or Nivx. A Palaeosiberian language spoken in the lower Amur basin and on Sakhalin; Ainu is also spoken on Sakhalin.
Iberic	There are lexical coincidences with Basque, but it is hard to know if they are more than a result of vicinity.
Ket	No known relatives. Some linguists have attempted to show a relationship with Burushaski.
Japanese	Very likely related to Korean language, though not yet proven. Connections to the Altaic languages have also been proposed.
Korean	Very likely related to Japanese language, though not yet proven. Connections to the Altaic languages have also been proposed.