8 Languages That Are Almost Dead
by N/A, 10 years ago |
1 min read
|
1735
Language is such an important part of culture and these dying languages might soon become something we can only read about in anthropology textbooks.
The Catalogue of Endangered Languages (ELCat), created by the Alliance for Linguistic Diversity, was created to find ways to preserve and learn from these languages.
1. Ts'ixa
Ts'ixa is closely related to the Shua language which is spoken throughout central Botswana, however, it is believed that only one village currently speaks Ts'ixa.
2. Ainu
The Ainu are the group that is native to Japan. This language is critically endangered, because there are only about 10 native speakers remaining.
3. Krimchak
This language is spoken by the people of Crimea, which located off of the coast of the Ukraine. It is also called Judeo-Crimean Tatar. There are an estimated 200 native speakers remaining.
4. Okanagan-Colville
Most native speakers live in British Columbia, Canada. It's been estimated that only about 150 people still speak this Native American language, but efforts have been made to preserve it.
5. Rapa Nui
Rapa Nui is considered a threatened language because it's native to the people of Easter Island. Since its use is isolated, there are few ways to spread and preserve it. Less than 4,000 native speakers remain and Spanish is becoming a common language on the island.
6. Saami
Saami is a family of languages spoken in Norway, Russia, Sweden and Finland. There are only a few thousand speakers remaining and the language is not typically spoken outside of the home.
7. Yagan
Only one native speaker of this native Chilean language is living. Others may speak it, but aren't fluent.
8. Irish Gaelic
In the Gaeltachts communities in Ireland, Irish Gaelic is still spoken as a primary language, but only 40,000 native speakers in the world. Students are even required to speak it, but the ELCat still considers it to be vulnerable.
✕
Do not show me this again