The name refers to the fact that it is the only major language family with large populations in both Africa and Asia.
ðə nˈeɪm ɹᵻfˈɜːz tə ðə fˈækt ðˌɐɾɪt ɪz ðɪ ˈoʊnli mˈeɪdʒɚ lˈæŋɡwɪdʒ fˈæmɪli wɪð lˈɑːɹdʒ pˌɑːpjʊlˈeɪʃənz ɪn bˈoʊθ ˈæfɹɪkə ænd ˈeɪʒə.