Mass Extinction of Languages

It is expected that about half of the 7000 languages that are spoken today will cease to exist by the year 2100, according to experts as reported by the Washington Post.

But what does it mean that a language is considered extinct? When the last person who learned that language as his or her primary language passes away.

Languages can become extinct as well as evolve. Languages such as English, Italian and Spanish will certainly survive and adapt to the new times. But many languages will become extinct. It can be said that this is nothing short of evolution as it manifests in linguistics.

There are regions that are especially vulnerable to this extinction process, mainly Siberia, North Australia, the Andes and the Amazon. Even the Pacific Northwest is expected to see the reversal of fortunes for several native languages.

Language extinction is not a modern phenomenon, it has happened since time immemorial and it happens when a smaller group come in contact with more dominant populations.

Government action also has affected the rate of extinction. Examples of this can be found in Russia and Australia, where government policies have been in place to encourage, if not force, native populations to speak the dominant language.

Each language offers a different perspective on the human experience. Let's hope that we can keep a vibrant language diversity from which to draw inspiration and knowledge.