RIP: Dying Languages

Because English is one of the most spoken languages on Earth, we as De Paul University students may not feel the impact that dying languages have on the world. Of the 7000 languages spoken currently in the world, only 3000 are said to still exist in the next several decades.

How can a language die? A language can be considered endangered and extinct just as an animal can. A language dies with its speakers. As the fluent speakers of the language get older and do not spread the knowledge to younger generations, the language becomes endangered. If the language is not saved, just as an animal species would, it disappears forever.

In many ways this has a very negative impact on the world. For example, languages hold information. An ancient language of South American may hold all of the historical information pertaining to that culture. A language of a tiny tribe in Africa may hold medical information key to the people of that region. If the younger generation becomes fluent in a different, more widely known language, that information is lost to them and the people of the future.

Some see this situation differently. Some see the loss of smaller languages as a part of globalization. As technology makes the world a smaller place, learning a common language is very important. Some of the most popular languages include English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, French and Chinese. There is so much pressure on the younger generations of the world to abandon their native tongues and learn one that is more widely spoken. Is it better to live in a world where everyone can communicate easily or in a world of diverse culture and language? Should languages be left to perish for the sake of a more unified world? Is there a way to preserve all of the languages we may lose and have a global language spoken? This is not going to happen by individual effort but as a world-wide effort.

For more information about endangered languages and how to support the cause visit www.endangeredlanguagefund.org