What linguistic criteria and references does MuturZikin use for its maps?

Updated

MuturZikin states its linguistic criteria, internal policy, terms of use, principal references, and FAQ on a single dedicated page linked from the site. According to the site's own navigation, that page is where you should look before relying on any map for classification decisions. The available page evidence confirms that this section exists and is part of the site's structure, but it does not reproduce the specific criteria or the reference list, so the exact classification rules and sources cannot be quoted from the material here.

What the site says about its method

The site describes itself as providing "linguistic maps of Europe, Africa, America, Oceania, Asia and Basque Country," with "useful and practical information for thousands languages displayed on specific geographic areas." That framing tells you the maps are organized geographically and that each language is placed within a specific area rather than presented as a single global scheme.

The page heading "Linguistic criteria, internal policy, terms of use, principal references and FAQ" indicates the author treats classification rules, editorial policy, and sourcing as one connected topic. In practice, that means the criteria page is the place to check:

  • Linguistic criteria — how languages are distinguished and labeled on the maps.
  • Internal policy — the author's rules for what gets shown and how.
  • Principal references — the sources behind the classifications.
  • Terms of use and FAQ — how the maps may be used and common questions answered.

How to check the criteria before citing a map

  1. Open muturzikin.com and locate the section headed "Linguistic criteria, internal policy, terms of use, principal references and FAQ."
  2. Read the criteria and references sections first; these determine whether a given language boundary matches your own source.
  3. Compare the map's label for your language of interest against the criteria, since the site covers thousands of languages and small labels can differ from standard references.
  4. Check the terms of use before reusing or republishing any map image.

Expected result: you will know whether the map's classification follows the author's stated rules and which references back it, rather than assuming a standard academic convention.

Practical limits to keep in mind

  • The site is authored by a single creator and carries a copyright notice dated 2005–2019, so treat it as one author's cartographic work rather than an institutional dataset.
  • The interface is available in many languages (including Euskara, English, Français, Español, 中文, 日本語, and others), but the criteria page itself should be read in the language you are most confident with to avoid misreading classification terms.
  • Because the specific references are not reproduced in the available material, verify any contested boundary against a second source before using it in research or publication.

For a quick orientation to what the site contains overall, see the companion question on what visitors can find on MuturZikin; for how maps are grouped, see the question on regional and language organization.