to Maban in the proposed but as yet undemonstrated Nilo-Saharan phylum. It would be easier to address the problem with better data, but no-one has been able to find speakers of the language again. It also happens that a language may be unclassified within an established family. That is, it may be obvious that it is, say, a Malayo-Polynesian language, but not clear in which branch of Malayo-Polynesian it belongs. When a family consists of many similar languages with great degree of confusing contact, a large number of languages may be effectively unclassified in this manner. Families where this is a substantial problem include Malayo-Polynesian, Bantu, Pama–Nyungan, and Arawakan. Examples by reason There are hundreds of unclassified languages, most of them extinct, although there are some, albeit relatively few, that are still spoken; in the following list, the extinct languages are labeled with a dagger (†). Absence of data These languages are unclassifiable, not just unclassified, because while there may be record of a language existing there may not be enough materials in it to analyze and classify, especially with now-extinct languages. (See, for example, a list of unclassified languages of South America.) Sentinelese (Andaman Islands) – a living presumed language of an uncontacted people Weyto† (Ethiopia) Nam† (Chinese–Tibetan border) – data remains undeciphered Harappan† (Indus Valley civilisation 33rd–13th centuries BC) – data remains undeciphered Cypro-Minoan† (Cyprus 15th–10th centuries BC) – data remains undeciphered Lullubi† (Iran) † (Tanzania) Guale† and Yamasee† (US) Himarimã (Brazil) – a living presumed language of an uncontacted people Nagarchal† (India) – assumed to have been Dravidian Scarcity of data Many of these languages are also considered unclassifiable, as the amount of data may not be enough to reveal close relatives if there were some. For others there may be enough data to show the language belongs to a particular family, but not where within it, or to show the language has no close relatives, but not enough to conclude that it is a language isolate. Solano† (Mexico) Cacán† (Argentina) Kujargé (Chad) Bung (Cameroon) Luo (Cameroon) Mawa† (Nigeria) Komta† (Nigeria) Wawu† (Ghana or Ivory Coast?) †? (West Africa) Dima-Bottego† (Ethiopia) Kwadi† (Angola) Philistine language† (Palestine) Iberian language† (Spain and southern France) Lemnian† (Lemnos, Greece) Minoan† (ancient Crete) Eteocretan† (ancient Crete) Hattic† (Anatolia) Kaskian† (Anatolia, possibly related to Hattic) Kassite† (Iraq) Gutian† (Zagros borderlands) Hunnic† (Eastern Europe & Central Asia) Xiongnu† (Mongolia) Xianbei† (Mongolia) Ruanruan† (Mongolia) Khitan†