List of Endangered Languages in the World: In the World, some Endangered Languages face the threat of extinction due to various factors like globalization, cultural assimilation, and government policies favoring dominant languages. An endangered language is likely to become extinct shortly.
Among these endangered languages, the UNESCO Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger identifies many, including the critically endangered ones like Ainu in Japan, Yuchi in the United States, and Wukchumni in Mexico. Languages are super important for human society.
In this article, we’ll talk about the list of endangered languages, and why It is Important to Preserve Endangered Languages. We have also provided the Efforts to Preserve Endangered Languages.
Table of Content
What Are Endangered Languages?
Languages that face total extinction are considered endangered. A language is deemed endangered, according to UNESCO, when a sizable portion of the population no longer speaks it as their first language or when it is not taught to children.
There are currently over 7,000 languages spoken in the world, but it is estimated that half of them are endangered and may disappear within the next few decades. Some of the factors contributing to the decline of these languages include political and social changes, globalization, and modernization.
List of Endangered Languages in the World
Endangered languages are at risk of becoming extinct due to various factors such as globalization, urbanization, and government policies. The loss of these languages not only erases cultural diversity but also valuable knowledge systems and ways of understanding the world. Here, we present a table highlighting some of the endangered around the world.
|
Language |
Region |
Level of Endangerment |
Number of Speakers |
Primary Threats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ainu |
Japan |
Critically Endangerment |
Fewer than 15 |
Cultural assimilator lack of use |
|
Dusner |
Indonesia |
Critically Endangerment |
Less than 20 |
Cultural assimilator language shift |
|
Chamicuro |
Peru |
Critically Endangerment |
Around 44 |
Cultural assimilator language shift |
|
Yagan |
Chile |
Critically Endangerment |
Less than 10 |
Cultural assimilator language shift |
|
Njerep |
Cameroon |
Critically Endangerment |
Fewer than 10 |
Cultural assimilator language shift |
|
Chulym |
Russia |
Critically Endangerment |
Fewer than 20 |
Cultural assimilator language shift |
|
Koro |
India |
Critically Endangerment |
Fewer than 10 |
Cultural assimilator language lack of use |
|
Wintu |
United States |
Extinct |
0 |
Cultural assimilator language lack of use |
|
Kaixana |
Brazil |
Extinct |
0 |
Cultural assimilator language lack of use |
|
Taushiro |
Peru |
Extinct |
0 |
Cultural assimilator language lack of use |
1. Ainu
The Ainu language is spoken by the indigenous Ainu people in Japan. It is estimated that there are only 10 native speakers left, with most of them being elderly individuals. The decline of this language can be attributed to years of discrimination against the Ainu people and policies aimed at assimilating them into Japanese society.
2. Dusner
Dusner is an Austronesian language spoken by the Dusner people on the island of Papua in Indonesia. With only 10 speakers left, it is on the brink of extinction. The decline of this language can be attributed to government policies that promote the use of Indonesian as the primary language in schools and official settings.
3. Chamicuro
Chamicuro is an indigenous language spoken by a small community in Peru. With only eight elderly speakers remaining, it is listed as critically endangered by UNESCO. The decline of this language can be attributed to forced assimilation and neglect by the Peruvian government.
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4. Yagan
Yagan is an indigenous language spoken by the Yagan people in Chile. It has only one remaining speaker, Cristina Calderón, who is in her late 80s. The decline of this language can be attributed to the displacement of the Yagan people from their traditional lands and the dominance of Spanish in Chile.
5. Njerep
Njerep is an African language spoken by a small community in Cameroon. It is estimated that there are only five elderly speakers left, and it is considered critically endangered. The decline of this language can be attributed to the influx of other languages in the region, including French and English.
6. Chulym
Chulym is a Turkic language spoken by the Chulym people in Russia. With only three elderly speakers remaining, it is listed as critically endangered by UNESCO. The decline of this language can be attributed to forced assimilation and suppression under Soviet rule.
7. Koro
Koro is a language spoken by a small community in India. It is estimated that there are only 800 speakers left, and it is considered critically endangered. The decline of this language can be attributed to government policies that promote Hindi as the primary language in schools and official settings.
8. Wintu
Wintu is an indigenous language spoken by the Wintu people in California, USA. With only two remaining speakers, it is considered critically endangered. The decline of this language can be attributed to colonization, forced assimilation, and the suppression of indigenous languages in the USA.
9. Kaixana
Kaixana is an indigenous language spoken by a small community in Brazil. It is estimated that there are only two remaining speakers left, both of whom are over 80 years old. The decline of this language can be attributed to colonization, displacement, and neglect by the Brazilian government.
10. Taushiro
Taushiro is an indigenous language spoken by a small community in Peru. It has only one remaining speaker, Amadeo García García, who is in his late 70s. The decline of this language can be attributed to the displacement of the Taushiro people from their traditional lands and the dominance of Spanish in Peru.
Why It Is Important to Preserve Endangered Languages
Important to Preserve Endangered Languages are:
- Diversity and Cultural Heritage: Every language is like a special window into different cultures and traditions. When a language disappears, a part of our human diversity and history disappears with it.
- Identity and Sense of Belonging: Our language is a big part of who we are and where we fit in. If a language vanishes, it’s not just words we lose, but also a piece of our identity and connection to our community.
- Linguistic Diversity Leads to Scientific Advancement: Having many different languages helps us understand more about how human language works. Endangered languages often have cool features that can teach us new things about language and how it changes over time.
- Preserving Traditional Knowledge: Endangered languages are often tied to ancient wisdom and ways of life. Losing a language means losing valuable knowledge about plants, animals, and cultural practices that have been passed down through generations.
- Economic Benefits: Keeping endangered languages alive can be good for the economy too. They can attract tourists, help with education, and support cultural industries. Plus, saving these languages creates jobs for language experts and researchers.
Efforts to Preserve Endangered Languages
People all over the world are working hard to save endangered languages. Governments, groups, and regular folks understand how important it is to keep these languages alive. They’re doing things like:
- Language Revitalization Programs: Some groups are teaching their native language to kids in special programs. This helps make sure the language stays alive and gets passed down to the next generation.
- Documentation and Preservation: Language experts are recording and writing down endangered languages, like making videos, dictionaries, and books. These resources are like treasure chests for future generations to learn from.
- Community-Based Language Preservation: Communities are doing things together, like language classes and events, to keep their languages alive. They’re taking charge and making sure their language and culture stay strong.
- Technology: Smartphones, the internet, and social media are helping save languages too. Apps and online platforms bring people who speak the same language together, making it easier for them to learn and use their language.
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Summary – List of Endangered Languages in the World
The list of endangered languages serves as a wake-up call for us to take action and protect our linguistic heritage. The loss of a language is an irreversible tragedy that not only affects its speakers but also erodes the diversity and richness of our world. Let us all join hands and work towards preserving these endangered languages before it’s too late.
FAQs on List of Endangered Languages in the World
What are endangered languages?
Languages classified as endangered face the possibility of total extinction. There aren’t many speakers left, and if preservation steps aren’t taken, they might disappear forever.
How many endangered languages are there in the world?
There are dozens of languages spoken throughout the world, but only about half are thought to be endangered, meaning they might vanish in a few decades.
What causes languages to become endangered?
Endangerment can arise from a number of causes, including shifts in the political and social landscape, globalization, colonization, uprooting of communities, and policies that support the dominant language.
What are the consequences of losing a language?
Losing a language also entails losing customs, knowledge, and distinct cultural viewpoints. It may result in difficulties maintaining traditional wisdom, a loss of identity, and a reduction in cultural diversity