Disappearing Languages

Linguists estimate that around seven thousand languages are spoken in the world today. Alarmingly, nearly half of them are considered endangered. A language typically disappears when parents stop passing it on to their children. This often happens because a dominant language offers better economic opportunities. When a language vanishes, a unique way of understanding the world is lost with it. Many languages contain detailed knowledge about local plants, animals and landscapes. Fortunately, communities are using recordings and apps to revive their heritage. Some languages once thought extinct have even been successfully brought back to life. Such efforts demonstrate that decline is not always irreversible.