The lingua franca is a two-edged sword. We enjoy the benefits of communicating with each other in a shared idiom, but may be risking the benefits of a multi-cultural society as societal changes occur. If Crystal (2000) is correct that the majority of the world's languages are in danger, do you perceive a negative cultural influence with our sciences being communicated through primarily one language? Crystal communicating on "Dead Language Theory," wrote:

"The majority of the world’s languages are vulnerable not just to decline but to extinction.

Over half the world’s languages are moribund, i.e., not effectively being passed on to the next generation…." (p. 19).

I would love to hear your comments and inquiry.

References

Crystal, D. (2000). Language death. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 96. [Excerpt, pp. 1-20] retrieved from http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/samples/cam032/99053220.pdf

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