Should we preserve dying languages?

goldbug
August 05
Status: 5 tokens - Active

Should we preserve dying languages, or is it not worth it?

3 Answers:

cookiesfog avatar

Imagine future generations losing an important part of their culture or identity because their language died out.

Hence, we must put in the work to ensure that these dying languages don't go extinct. Over the years, preserving endangered wildlife species has been prioritized. 

Endangered languages should also be given the same attention. Languages are a key aspect of any cultural heritage — they help to promote and preserve heritage. Put simply, preserving a dying language preserves a culture.

vegacricket6 avatar

A saying goes thus: “Language is the cultural glue that binds communities together.” Once a language dies, a significant part of the community dies. No doubt, languages are means of communication. But they offer even much more to humanity.

Every language has cultural, personal, and scientific. For these reasons, we need to preserve these endangered languages and ensure they are transferred from one generation to another.

optimusprime avatar

Language extinction is nothing new in human history. Up to 573 languages have gone extinct, and a few dying languages will still suffer the same fate. 

Research has shown that there are about 7,000 languages in today's world, and about 40% are on the verge of extinction.

This is because languages naturally change, shift, and die throughout human history. Hence, preserving dying languages isn't worth the effort. 

Instead, we should allow nature to take its course.

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