According to researchers, there is a real ‘language diversity crisis’. “We must act now.”

At present, about 7,000 languages ​​are spoken worldwide. But how many will be left by the end of the century? Researchers warn that quite a few languages ​​are currently ‘threatened with extinction’. And they think it would be a shame if these beautiful and unique languages ​​actually disappear for good.

Endangered languages

Yet it seems that many languages ​​do not have eternal life. Because of the 7,000 recognized languages, about half are at risk. “Without immediate intervention, language loss could triple in the next 40 years,” said researcher Lindell Bromham. “And by the end of the century, 1,500 languages ​​may not be spoken at all.”

mortal sin

According to the researchers, that would be a real shame. “If we lose a language, we lose so much,” Bromham says in conversation with Scientias.nl. “Each language is a unique expression of human culture. So losing a language also means losing a cultural treasure. Languages ​​contain irreplaceable information about human history and diversification. Moreover, each language is a tribute to the creativity and inventiveness of the human mind, a beautiful and fascinating solution to complex communication challenges.”

Causes

But why is it that so many languages ​​are on the verge of disappearing? In a new study scientists decided to look for causes. “If we consider all the languages ​​of the world, are there certain ‘alarm bells’ that indicate that a language is under threat?” explains Bromham. And that question can indeed be answered with a ‘yes’.

Road density

The researchers encountered 51 stressors that could indicate that a language is in dire straits. “We also found some really unexpected and surprising bottlenecks,” says Bromham. One of these is the so-called ‘road density’. “Contact with other local languages ​​is not the problem,” Bromham continues. “In fact, languages ​​that come into contact with many other indigenous languages ​​are generally less threatened. But we found that the more roads that cross a country connecting cities and towns, the greater the risk of languages ​​being compromised. It is as if dominant languages ​​are ‘trampling’ smaller languages ​​by means of roads.”

training

In addition to road density, training also appears to be an important factor. “We don’t have enough detailed information to draw firm conclusions about this cause,” Bromham said. “However, a previous study of an Indigenous community in Northern Australia has shown that people with education tend to use fewer Indigenous language elements in their everyday speech.”

Vulnerable Languages
It means that a variety of factors put pressure on languages. Which specific languages ​​are the biggest cause for concern? This should become apparent from follow-up studies. “Every language has a unique situation, so we can’t predict the specific trajectory of each language based on the current study,” Bromham says. However, many languages ​​in Australia appear to be particularly vulnerable. For example, before colonization, more than 250 languages ​​were spoken and multilingualism was the norm. Now there are 40 languages ​​left, of which only 12 are being taught to children.

Look at it!
Curious about which languages ​​are under threat? look at here a ticket. And..don’t forget to zoom in on the Netherlands!

Urgent action is needed to save endangered languages ​​from extinction, researchers say. And now that we know the main causes of their disappearance, we can intervene in time. “Language diversity is facing a crisis,” emphasizes Bromham. “We must act now.”

Fortunately, we can do something by ensuring that the 1,500 endangered languages ​​also make it into the 22nd century. “Many languages ​​still have fluent speakers,” Bromham reassures. “We will therefore urgently need to give communities the support they need to ensure that their language remains strong and is passed on to the next generation.” One way to breathe new life into a language, for example, is through bilingual curricula in schools, Bromham suggests. Better tools can also be provided to ensure that children learn and continue to use a heritage language. These are just a few of the possibilities to prevent a language from losing out. “Let’s celebrate linguistic diversity around the world,” concludes Bromham.