The Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) International has compiled a catalog of the world’s languages, called the Ethnologue, which lists 6,909 distinct languages being spoken. By 2115, researchers say there will be only 600 languages left on the planet. Is This a good news or not.
Languages are dynamic means of communication in the sense that languages evolve and change over time. Nowadays we are increasingly moving towards total globalization, so we are increasingly in need of a language that everyone can understand. However I believe that the disappearance of many languages is a cultural impoverishment perhaps equivalent or comparable to the inexorable decrease in planetary biodiversity. Therefore, since it does not seem possible to avoid the end of many languages, it is necessary to preserve and pass on the literary works of dead languages. As was done in the case of Latin or classical Greek, etc.
To me, it is good, it could lead to better communication and understanding between us. Interesting phenomenon...are we witnessing a reversal of the tower of babel?
Its not a good effect since we need to have lingual pluralism (that mean cultural pluralism) its like the extinction of animals!
If a culture needs a language, it will have a language. Speakers cater for their communication needs pretty much instictively. This means that languages could as well pop up back into existence and their numbers bloster, if the needs of the people are diversified enough to sustain them. There is no fundamental fear of a monoculture coming about through language dominance. I feel only the reverse could be argued for: (observed) language dominance coming about through an emerging monoculture. Then the question is relegated to whether an emerging monoculture is 'good' or 'bad'. 'Language conservation', especially undertaken by people outside the original speaking community, is an odd goal to pursue, given the dynamic nature of language itself. Language is by no means the only carrier of culture and a culture can transition into another language without forsaking its identity. The only true worry is if there are speech communities forcefully denied of their right to choose their language, in which case an intervention is sanctioned.
you can not have a decent job if you do not know an international language. you can not be visible if you do not write in a newspaper that, of course, does not receive the material unless it is written in an international language. you can not live in another country unless you fluently speak an international language. if you are a linguistic minority you can not use your own language than in your community. you strive for your own child to know better the language of the majority and, of course, an international language. I can write here because I'm writing in an international language.
so it is more reasonable to know better an international language than your own language. ıt s not good, but that's it, it's a fact.
Hello,
Languages are entities and systems through which ethnic and social groups are identified. The extinction of languages heralds the demise of specific cultures which once were recognized through their works of literature. Accordingly, the death of a language is a sign reflecting the assimilation of a minor group into the more dominant group. Therefore, in the world of inequalities and ethnic differences, we are very sadly witnessing the slow annihilation of once highly valued languages and cultures.
Best regards,
R. Biria
The extinction of language is inevitable in cultural evolution. Isolated minority languages are dying out because they are not used in cross cultural discourse.
Apart from contributing to the cultural identity of the group they are not functional.
The large fishes are engulfing small fishes!
In India also, English is engulfing many languages. Some of such languages are having very good heritage of literature!
India Government policy is to spread Hindi language throughout the country, which is also one type of fish eating!
Languages are dynamic means of communication in the sense that languages evolve and change over time. Nowadays we are increasingly moving towards total globalization, so we are increasingly in need of a language that everyone can understand. However I believe that the disappearance of many languages is a cultural impoverishment perhaps equivalent or comparable to the inexorable decrease in planetary biodiversity. Therefore, since it does not seem possible to avoid the end of many languages, it is necessary to preserve and pass on the literary works of dead languages. As was done in the case of Latin or classical Greek, etc.
It is not good. Language is part of culture which must be upheld..
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to translate pretty well from any language into the most international language
No es bueno que desaparezcan lenguas, ya que las lenguas funcionales son las mediadoras culturales entre los pueblos y transmiten las lenguas históricas que nos permiten interactuar. Las lenguas de servicio no aportan a la comunicación humana, sirven a otros fines, generalmente de dominación económica y política.
bence de işlevsel dillerin yeri ayrı olmalı. ancak durum gösteriyor ki her alanda başarı göstermek için veya en azından fikirlerini tanıtmak için vazgelçilmez olan o işlevsel dillerden birini kullanmak zorundayız.
It sounds logical that the lesser the number of languages in the world, the easier it will become to communicate in a globalised world. But this thinking ignores the fact that communication in a "technical" sense is just one of the functions of languages. Languages also serve as a means to express one's identity as the member of a group and they are containers of cultural heritage, illustrating and conserving cultural practices. Not everything is translatable – or why do so many people bother studying "dead" languages like Latin, Ancient Greek or Sanskrit? So I definitely think the loss of a language, as natural as it may appear, is also a loss for humankind. Also, in a lot of cases, linguistic and cultural oppression is an important factor in making languages "disappear" and we as linguists should always take a closer look at the circumstances.
So, I have not read all the answers above, but I skimmed enough to add a follow up statement about "by whose definition of 'good' or 'bad' are we measuring?"
It seems from a heritage/cultural perspective it is unfortunate that smaller languages are being replaced by more "global" ones. (and I surely agree that this loss is "bad" overall as we are loosing little bits of ways to look at, think about, and explain the world around us as our ancestors did).
However, from a purely logistical perspective of paperwork and international commerce, etc. it seems very fortunate that there are a handful of languages that can be used so that we can communicate across oceans and mountains and geo-political boundaries.
By 2115 we may all be communicating in emoji symbols... that would be scary.
Languages are not being lost in the way they were. I have just been reading about the work of Wolfgang Feurstein in saving Lazuri. The language was dying out because it had no alphabet and no dictionary. Most of the lost languages have died out because they had no written form and as soon as the last speaker died it was gone. Written languages survive even when the last of the speakers has gone because they can be re-animated effectively.
Do you think this phenomena is a consequence of the Globalization that we were witness during the last two decades.
Diversity in cultures may be a healthy for the advancements of the human begins civilization, Given that the language is an important component of any culture, declining the number of languages may reduce the diversity of cultures which may impact the human begins civilization advancement. By that way I do believe that as human begins we have one civilization and different cultures.
There is room for all languages in the world, while globalization encourages --and often neccesitates-- the acquisition of languages beyond one's mother tongue. Projects to revitalize endangered languages have achieved limited success, and have produced some valuable cultural artifacts along the way.
For more on revitalization projects, please see this question page:
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_strategies_for_revitalizing_endangered_languages_have_been_successful
EL is taking over L1. Very unhealthy in multicultural setting. This my cause language death in long term.
Chez certaines communautés de langue minoritaire ,la langue est devenue un moyen de division dans un même pays
Diversity in cultures may be a healthy for the advancements of the human begins civilization, Given that the language is an important component of any culture, declining the number of languages may reduce the diversity of cultures which may impact the human begins civilization advancement. By that way I do believe that as human begins we have one civilization and different cultures.
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