In this blog post, we will look at the reality of languages disappearing around the world and discuss our efforts and role in protecting linguistic diversity.
Languages are sustained by children who learn them. As children learn about the world, communicate with others, and form their identities through language, language goes beyond a simple means of communication and serves as a bridge connecting culture and history. Therefore, if a language is only used by adults, its demise is more or less inevitable. If a language is not passed on to children, it will naturally disappear over time. This means that the knowledge, culture, and traditions contained in that language will also disappear. Linguists have come to this conclusion and warn of the tragedy that this will bring to human history.
One linguist estimates that about 80% of the 150 North American Indian languages that exist today are moribund. These languages are barely maintained by the last few generations of elderly speakers, and the younger generation is growing up without learning them. In Alaska and northern Siberia, 40 languages, or 90% of the existing languages, are endangered. These regions are facing difficulties in preserving their unique languages and cultures due to rapid climate change and economic pressures. In Central and South America, 160 languages, or 23% of the total, are in danger of extinction, and in Australia, 225 languages, or 90% of the total, are expected to disappear. These regions were once home to a variety of languages and cultures, but are now rapidly being absorbed into mainstream languages.
Globally, approximately 3,000 languages, or 50% of existing languages, are said to be disappearing. Approximately 600 languages with more than 100,000 speakers are relatively secure, but the remaining languages, which account for 90% of the world’s languages, may disappear before the end of the 21st century. This language extinction is more than just a statistical decline; it represents a serious loss to human culture. When a language disappears, so do the unique ways of thinking, traditional knowledge, and unique worldviews that accompany it.
This is equivalent to the permanent loss of part of humanity’s intellectual heritage. There are various causes for the extinction of languages on such a large scale. The habitats of indigenous language users are destroyed, ethnic groups are exterminated, and assimilation education is implemented. In addition to the rapid decline in the number of users, the spread of electronic media, which is referred to as a cultural nerve gas, is also a cause.
In the wave of globalization, electronic media and the Internet are making certain minority languages even more powerful, and minority language speakers are gradually finding themselves in an environment where it is difficult to survive without using the mainstream language. Of course, we can prevent language extinction to a certain extent by stopping social and political movements that force extinction and by developing educational materials, literary works, and television programs in indigenous languages. Furthermore, even languages that are on the verge of extinction can be revived if there is a strong will to continue using them as official languages, as was the case with Hebrew in the 20th century. Cooperation between local communities and governments is essential in this process, and a global change in awareness is necessary. Only when we all recognize the value of language and strive to preserve it will we be able to overcome the threat of language extinction.
Realistically speaking, just as we cannot preserve all animal and plant species on Earth, we cannot preserve all languages, and perhaps we should not. This is because there are moral and practical issues involved. When a language community chooses to switch to a mainstream language that guarantees economic development, can any outside group force them to maintain their indigenous language? Furthermore, the use of different languages within a community can cause serious divisions between people. However, even with these problems, we cannot just stand by and watch as more than half of the world’s languages are on the verge of extinction. We must respect human diversity and the wisdom it contains, and strive to preserve as many languages as possible. This is not simply a matter of preserving languages, but also of preserving our own future.
Why should we care about endangered languages? Linguistic diversity shows the range of human linguistic ability. Language contains human history and geography, so the extinction of a language is like burning an entire library of historical documents. Language is also the foundation of poetry, stories, and songs in a culture. Therefore, if languages continue to disappear and only a few mainstream languages survive, it will damage the cultural diversity of humanity. Furthermore, the disappearance of languages can also affect humanity’s creativity and problem-solving abilities. Diverse languages reflect diverse ways of thinking, and this diversity plays an important role in solving complex problems. Therefore, the loss of linguistic diversity can limit the potential for human development.
Ultimately, we must recognize that preserving languages is equivalent to preserving our cultural and intellectual heritage. We must make every effort to pass this heritage on to future generations. Languages are more than just tools for communication; they are important assets that embody our identity and history.
