ENDANGERED LANGUAGES Meaning and
Definition
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Endangered languages refer to languages that are at risk of becoming extinct or no longer being spoken by any living individuals. These languages are characterized by a decreasing number of speakers, usually due to factors such as globalization, language shift, cultural assimilation, or political policies.
The criteria used to determine the status of an endangered language can vary, but one common approach is the UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. According to this classification, there are five levels of endangerment: vulnerable, definitely endangered, severely endangered, critically endangered, and extinct. The terms are based on the number of speakers and the intergenerational transmission of the language.
The loss of endangered languages represents a significant threat to cultural diversity and heritage, as languages are not simply mediums of communication but also repositories of unique knowledge, traditions, and identities. Preserving and revitalizing endangered languages has thus become a global concern. Efforts to address this issue include language documentation, revival programs, language nests, and the creation of language archives.
However, preserving endangered languages is a complex task that requires addressing social, educational, economic, and political aspects. It involves empowering communities to take ownership of their languages, providing resources and support for language revitalization, and promoting multilingualism and language rights.
In summary, endangered languages are linguistic systems at risk of disappearing due to declining numbers of speakers and various external factors. Protecting and revitalizing these languages is essential for the preservation of cultural diversity and the expression of human identities.
Etymology of ENDANGERED LANGUAGES
The word "endangered languages" is derived from the combination of two terms: "endangered" and "languages".
The word "endangered" comes from the verb "endanger", which originated from the Old French word "endangier" in the 14th century. It can be further traced back to the Late Latin word "in periculum", meaning "in danger", and the Latin word "periculum", meaning "danger".
The term "languages" is derived from the Middle English word "langage" or "language", which can be traced back to the Old French word "langage". It ultimately evolved from the Latin word "lingua", meaning "tongue" or "speech".
The combination of these terms gives us "endangered languages", referring to languages that are at risk of disappearing or becoming extinct.
