Endangered languages

Endangered languages are languages at risk of falling out of use, primarily because they are spoken by very few people. An endangered language is often defined by a small number of speakers with the language not being taught to younger generations, leading to a generational interruption in language transmission.

Causes

The decline in the number of speakers is often a result of factors including globalization, cultural assimilation, political oppression, and economic marginalization. These factors encourage or force speakers of minority languages to adopt more dominant languages. Another significant cause is the lack of formal education in the endangered language which leads to its decreased use in official settings and literature.

Consequences

The loss of an endangered language results in the erosion of cultural identity and knowledge. Languages are repositories of history and traditions, and each language reflects unique ways of thinking and a unique worldview. The extinction of any language leads to a permanent loss of considerable cultural heritage.

Preservation Efforts

Efforts to preserve, revitalize, and document endangered languages involve linguistic fieldwork, educational policies, and community engagement. Organizations like UNESCO and various non-governmental organizations work towards raising awareness and supporting communities to revive their languages. Techniques include the development of educational materials, recording of native speakers, and promotion of language use in the community and media.

Examples

Some well-known endangered languages include:

• Ainu in Japan
• Hawaiian in the United States
• Manx on the Isle of Man

See also

• Language death
• Language revitalization
• Linguistic diversity
• Minority language