Disappearing Languages

Linguists estimate that around seven thousand languages are spoken in the world today.

語言學家估計，當今世界上大約有7000種語言正在使用。

Alarmingly, nearly half of them are considered endangered.

令人擔憂的是，其中近一半被認為處於瀕危狀態。

A language typically disappears when parents stop passing it on to their children.

一種語言通常會在父母不再把它傳給孩子時消失。

This often happens because a dominant language offers better economic opportunities.

這種情況往往是因為強勢語言能提供更好的經濟機會。

When a language vanishes, a unique way of understanding the world is lost with it.

一種語言消失時，一種理解世界的獨特方式也隨之消失。

Many languages contain detailed knowledge about local plants, animals and landscapes.

許多語言蘊含著有關當地植物、動物和地貌的詳細知識。

Fortunately, communities are using recordings and apps to revive their heritage.

幸運的是，各個社群正在利用錄音和應用程式來復興自己的文化遺產。

Some languages once thought extinct have even been successfully brought back to life.

一些曾被認為已經消失的語言甚至已成功復活。

Such efforts demonstrate that decline is not always irreversible.

這些努力顯示，衰落並不總是無法逆轉的。