I good for a first attempt

I think this a very unique map and a very good idea you could make several maps using the same idea e.g. africa asia america and the world

thehenkan wrote:
|> I love the idea, but can I ask why some of the borders look like a square wave? Is it because those languages overlap in those areas?

I did not create this map, but yes, I think that's exactly the reason.

While in most areas one language is spoken by the vast majority of people, there are cases of two languages coexisting, both spoken by a large part of the population. When drawing maps of such cases it's quite common to use bars of alternating colour (each corresponding to one of the languages) in a way vaguely similar to a pedestrian crossing.
Since it is not possible to use colours on a WL map (since colours are already used to show which player controls a territory), this seems a nice solution.

Here's an [example](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iberia_300BC.svg).

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Domenico wrote:
|> Anyhow, I must have been misinformed, because as far as I knew, because Basque is the only remaining language of those spoken on the peninsula before the Romans came, it was called Iberian.

Just to be perfectly sure, I double checked. At least according to [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_languages), "*Iberian languages* is a generic term for the languages currently or formerly spoken in the Iberian Peninsula.", being solely geography-based, disregarding languages families.

It's quite an interesting article to read actually; I had no idea there've been so many languages, from so many different families, in Spain (curiously enough, it seems Portugal for the most part used to stick to one language all the time).

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Domenico wrote:
|> Also, what status do these extra Uralic languages have in Russia?

[Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_languages)

@ Urfang: As you may notice, I cut off the map just West of Kaukasus. I did this because the language situation there is quite to very complicated.That also means I'm not doing any other languages east of that line.

@thehenkan: As Petrenko and RvW guessed, that indicates where 'languages clashed'.

@domenico: -Occidental is a 'constructed language'but i guess you meant occitan or provencal. Wikipedia says those languages are at least 'severly endagered' meaning only elderly people speak the language fluently. The status on Alemanisch is discussed. Some say it's a dialect while others say it's a variant on german. Frysian in contrast certainly is a language different from Dutch. Sardinian is a language as well. However I like your idea, so I'll think about it. If you know any more, bring them on.
-There is only one small city on Sardinia where Catalan is spoken. I don't know if I should connect them. It's usually done in other European maps, but since in this map the Iberian peninsula is "more" connected to the continent than usually, it might not be necessary.

Thanks for your feedback and cooperation.

PS: for another map, I'm looking for a specific English word meaning "at the borders of water" with the water in this case being a canal or a port and the border not being paved or whatsoever. The word should thus be something like "quay" or "wharf" or "border" or so.

Ah yes, of course, Occitan. I wasn't sure what their official status was, but since you added Brezhoneg, also endangered I believe, I figured those might stand a chance, too.
These same things go for the Italian minority languages like Venetian. Did you compare their status, with which I mean their usage rather than official status.
Indeed, language situations on other continents are often either completely erratic (Africa and Asia) or monotonous (America and Oceania).

At the borders of water --> Shore?

|>Indeed, language situations on other continents are often either completely erratic (Africa and Asia) or monotonous (America and Oceania).

Yep, Europe has the perfect language mix.

About the languages: It seems to be very hard to make a good criterium: official status in a country? official status as language/variant/dialect/...? official status on being used a lot, being extinct ... ?
To make this map consistent , I think I should leave out Cornish and Breton. That could make a "logical" division on which languages to use in this map. Do you agree on this?
It almost seems necessary to make a second map titled "Europe by local languages and dialects" or "detailed Europe by language" or something similar.

And about the water: isn't shore specific for a sea or a (big) lake? what I mean is something like this:


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lissewege_-_Boudewijnkanaal_1.jpg

(what you see on the other side of the canal)

RvW, not to jump on the "that's an offensive word" bandwagon, but apparently "Eskimo" is quite offensive to the native peoples of far North America. I believe most of them prefer to be called Inuit.

On the other hand, the Yupik are very much like the Inuit, but they prefer to be called Eskimo over Inuit.

Antiloopje, I can't be sure, but I think what's on your picture is a bank.
Texas John's a native, so he should know, aren't I right, John?

Yep, that's it. Thanks for helping :)