3,000 Languages May Be Extinct Within 100 Years
- 12 years ago
3,000 Languages May Be Extinct Within 100 Years - as part of the news series by GeoBeats.
More than 6 thousand different languages are spoken in the world. But according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, about half of these languages are in danger of becoming extinct.
There are many endangered languages in remote and urban locations where the younger population doesn’t understand the importance of preserving the linguistic heritage of their ancestors or grandparents.
The Linguistic Society of America estimates that “around a quarter of the world’s languages have fewer than a thousand remaining speakers” and they agree with the estimate that up to three thousand endangered languages could be lost in the next hundred years, if current trends continue.
But there are efforts being made by Rosetta-Stone and others to create a computer model for teaching some of these endangered languages, which may appeal to a younger generation immersed in technology.
Their Endangered Languages Program model has been used for six endangered languages spoken by Native American tribes in the United States and Canada.
Why do you think keeping endangered languages alive is important?
More than 6 thousand different languages are spoken in the world. But according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, about half of these languages are in danger of becoming extinct.
There are many endangered languages in remote and urban locations where the younger population doesn’t understand the importance of preserving the linguistic heritage of their ancestors or grandparents.
The Linguistic Society of America estimates that “around a quarter of the world’s languages have fewer than a thousand remaining speakers” and they agree with the estimate that up to three thousand endangered languages could be lost in the next hundred years, if current trends continue.
But there are efforts being made by Rosetta-Stone and others to create a computer model for teaching some of these endangered languages, which may appeal to a younger generation immersed in technology.
Their Endangered Languages Program model has been used for six endangered languages spoken by Native American tribes in the United States and Canada.
Why do you think keeping endangered languages alive is important?