Introduction
As planned, it’s time to talk about subcultures today. But in the last post, while exploring culture, we touched on the concept of 「language」. As a graduate of language university, and have written essay on the disappearance of language after arriving in New Zealand. I couldn’t resist inserting an article about 「language」 today. It is actually a big concept. Let’s talk about it briefly today, and we’ll discuss it in a separate topic later.
Imagine waking up one day and realizing that the language you’ve spoken your entire life is gone—no one else speaks it, and there’s no way to pass it on. It might sound like something out of a dystopian novel, but this is the reality for many languages around the world. Language is more than just a means of communication; it’s a lifeline to culture, identity, and history. Yet, languages are disappearing at an alarming rate. Let’s explore why language is so crucial, the shocking statistics behind language loss, and what happens when a language vanishes.
How Many Languages Are There?
First, let’s get some numbers on the table. According to Ethnologue, one of the most comprehensive databases on world languages, there are currently about 7,100 languages spoken globally. That’s an incredible diversity of human expression! However, this number is shrinking fast. It’s estimated that nearly 40% of these languages are endangered, meaning they’re at risk of disappearing because they aren’t being passed down to the next generation. To put it in perspective, about one language dies every two weeks. This means that by the end of this century, more than half of the languages spoken today could be extinct.
Why Does Language Matter?
So, why should we care about languages disappearing? Well, language is more than just words—it’s a gateway to a community’s soul. Each language carries with it a unique worldview, a way of understanding and interpreting the world that’s shaped by the culture and history of its speakers. Through language, people share their traditions, pass down stories, and preserve their heritage.
Take, for example, the concept of time. In English, we think of time as linear—past, present, future. But in the Hopi language, spoken by the Hopi people in the southwestern United States, time is understood very differently. The Hopi don’t separate time into past, present, and future in the same way English speakers do. Instead, they focus on whether something is becoming (ongoing) or has become (completed). This isn’t just a linguistic quirk; it reflects a fundamentally different way of perceiving reality.
Language is also deeply tied to identity. It’s how people define who they are and where they come from. Speaking a language connects individuals to their ancestors and roots, giving them a sense of belonging and pride in their heritage. When a language is lost, it’s not just words that disappear—it’s a part of the people’s identity, their way of seeing the world, and their connection to their ancestors.
The Consequences of Language Loss
When a language disappears, the world loses more than just a means of communication. There’s a profound cultural loss that comes with the extinction of a language. Traditional knowledge, such as indigenous medicinal practices, environmental understanding, and folklore, is often encoded in language. Once a language is gone, this knowledge is often lost forever.
For example, many indigenous languages have specific terms for local plants, animals, and ecological relationships that don’t exist in any other language. This knowledge, passed down through generations, plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and sustainable living practices. When these languages disappear, so too does the traditional knowledge they carry, leading to a gap in our collective understanding of the natural world.
The loss of language also impacts social cohesion and individual identity. Language helps maintain the social fabric of a community by fostering communication, understanding, and shared values. When a community loses its language, it can lead to a breakdown in social ties and a weakening of cultural traditions. Younger generations, in particular, may feel disconnected from their heritage, leading to a loss of cultural identity and pride.
Moreover, the disappearance of a language often signals the end of cultural diversity. The world becomes more homogenized, with fewer distinct cultural voices contributing to the global conversation. This loss of diversity isn’t just a cultural tragedy—it’s a loss for all humanity. Each language offers a unique way of thinking and problem-solving that can contribute to our collective knowledge and creativity.
Preserving Languages: What Can Be Done?
The good news is that there are efforts underway to preserve and revitalize endangered languages. Many communities are taking steps to document their languages, create educational programs, and encourage younger generations to learn and use their ancestral languages. Technology also plays a role, with online platforms and mobile apps designed to teach and promote endangered languages.
However, preservation efforts require more than just technical solutions—they need community support and involvement. Language preservation is most successful when it’s driven by the people who speak the language and who see its value in their everyday lives. Governments and organizations can support these efforts by providing resources and recognition, but the heart of language preservation lies within the communities themselves.
Conclusion
Language is much more than a tool for communication; it’s a cornerstone of culture and identity. The disappearance of a language represents a profound loss—not just for the people who speak it, but for the entire world. As languages vanish, so too do the unique worldviews, knowledge, and traditions they carry. In a rapidly globalizing world, it’s more important than ever to recognize the value of linguistic diversity and to take action to preserve the languages that are at risk of disappearing. After all, every language is a piece of the human puzzle, and losing even one diminishes us all.
References
Ethnologue. (2023). Languages of the world. Retrieved from https://www.ethnologue.com/
Crystal, D. (2000). Language death. Cambridge University Press.
Austin, P. K., & Sallabank, J. (Eds.). (2011). The Cambridge handbook of endangered languages. Cambridge University Press.
Harrison, K. D. (2007). When languages die: The extinction of the world’s languages and the erosion of human knowledge. Oxford University Press.
Nettle, D., & Romaine, S. (2000). Vanishing voices: The extinction of the world’s languages. Oxford University Press.