Did you know that over 7,000 languages are spoken around the world? And, roughly 40% of these languages are on the verge of going extinct or at risk of language endangerment?
These languages on the verge of extinction are categorized as endangered languages.
A language can die due to a number of reasons. Some can be due to geopolitical conditions or even natural disasters. For example, a community can abandon its cultural practices and language in order to survive against an oppressor—which was common many years ago.
In the 21st century, the main reason for a language dying is that people simply abandon it in favor of another language. And, that is exactly how UNESCO defines an endangered language, one that has been abandoned by its people for another more universal language.
In saying that, languages are an important part of having a diverse world. Saving indigenous languages that are on the endangered languages project list can help prevent language loss.
Let’s look at why it is crucial that we preserve these endangered languages within communities and what we can do to save them and raise awareness:
Why It’s Important to Support Endangered Languages
Preserving an endangered language should be considered as important as preserving an endangered wildlife species.
Why?
Because language is so much more than a way to communicate—language is a large part of cultures.
Language is the main medium through which a culture promotes and preserves its heritage. The world’s languages have been used for centuries as a way to pass down some of the best stories of ancestors and other rich cultural histories.
And while writing is a more recent development it’s provided us with clear records of cultures and people around the world.
Most cultures still rely on local languages to communicate their histories, folklore, songs, and poems. An endangered language means its culture is also on the brink of collapse.
Just like different species of animals, their survival is crucial in maintaining a diverse world.
Many languages also represent the uniqueness their parent culture has. For example, the language Cherokee doesn’t have a word for “goodbye”, it only has “I will see you again” and that shows us the unique concepts of goodbyes that its people have.
Preserving a language means preserving its very community and culture, which is essential to maintaining a diverse and inclusive world.
How Can We Help Support Endangered Languages?
Individual governments can impose forceful measures to protect many languages from dying. But there are more inclusive and easier measures that individual community members can use to preserve their language or an endangered language in their local areas.
Let’s look at some ways in which any member of a community can contribute to saving a dying language:
Creating and Maintaining Language Resources for Every Endangered Language
A language is more than just a medium of communication. As native speakers of any language, we also think a certain way because we speak a certain language. Creating printed or recorded resources of a language are crucial for maintaining its context and history.
Languages involve technical aspects like syntax, punctuation, emphasis on syllables, etc. All these aspects have to be carefully curated and recorded. And linguists and anthropologists have to work hand in hand to create the right record of such documentation.
Creating such detailed documentation is probably the most crucial step in preserving a language. This documentation creates a concrete record and allows new speakers to learn the language without having to decipher it themselves.
Using Interpreting Services to Decode and Preserve Endangered Languages
One of the main reasons why native speakers of a language move away from using their language is miscommunication. Often, especially if the language is spoken by a small number of people, listeners aren’t able to understand what they’re saying.
One of the many drawbacks of globalization is that major languages like Spanish and English are the primary modes of communication in almost every country and industry.
In order to study and conduct business, speakers of less-spoken languages adopt the more widespread languages. And while this makes it easier for those around them, it can lead to the extinction of minority languages.
However, good interpreting or good translation services can help change this dynamic. By being available 24/7 via mediums such as the phone or internet, interpreting services can ease the worries of people that speak indigenous languages. These people can also hire an interpreter to assist them in their native language in case of an important event or business trip.
When others are easily able to understand what a speaker of a minority language has to say, the speaker no longer has to feel pressured in learning another language.
Using Social Media to Promote Indigenous Languages
It may seem like technology has presented a huge setback for endangered languages and promoted the use of global languages. Even though that’s partially true, social media platforms have also contributed to their preservations.
Mediums such as YouTube and Facebook groups present a unique opportunity. Here, users can create communities where they can not only teach their language but also promote its usage.
Social media also provides the opportunity for speakers of different languages to connect with each other—no matter where they are around the world.
These mediums also allow speakers to create video, textual and audio records of their language. These records are accessible to across the globe.
Taking Language Classes
Finally, as individuals, speakers of endangered languages can regularly participate in teaching and taking language classes to keep the language alive. In some communities, they even pay elders and scholars stipends to teach their local languages to the younger generations.
Even using the language in social gatherings and settings can give it meaning and emphasize its importance on a frequent basis.
Another alternative is participating in language swap programs where people come together to learn each other’s language.
It is crucial to understand that languages represent cultures. This reiterates the need to protect endangered languages. Without its language, a culture can die out quickly and become lost to time. Above all, preserving languages is as critical as preserving diverse wildlife to maintain a balanced ecosystem. But, instead, we will have a rich and diverse world.
What are your thoughts? Do you have any more ideas on how to save endangered languages?