Quote by Rodger Doyle, Scientific America
The vanishing of languages, like those of living species, is an event that has been repeated many times in history. Localized disasters such as a volcano eruptions, great floods or warfare have played a part, but in the modern era the spread of Europeans--and European diseases--has greatly accelerated the pace of destruction. Local or regional language communities may be overpowered by a dominant metropolitan language, which increases the pressure to neglect the ancestral tongue in favor of the new one and is seen as the key to prospering in the dominant culture. Children may be forbidden to use their mother tongue in the classroom, as has occurred to many groups, including the Welsh, Native Americans and Aboriginal Australians. Speakers of minority languages have been forcibly relocatedand combined with speakers of other languages, as happened when Africans were brought to the Americas as slaves. Practices such as these have made Native American languages the most imperiled of any on the earth.The death of a language is not only a tragedy for those directly involved but also an irretrievable cultural loss for the rest of the world. Through language, each culture expresses a unique worldview. Thus, any effort to preserve linguistic variety implies a deep respect for the positive values of other cultures.
Summary
This quote highlights the phenomenon of language extinction and its causes throughout history. While natural disasters and warfare have played a role, the spread of European colonization and diseases has accelerated language loss. The dominance of a metropolitan language often leads to the neglect of ancestral languages, with children being forbidden to use them in schools. Forced relocations and assimilation have also contributed to the endangerment of minority languages, particularly Native American languages. The death of a language not only affects those directly involved but also represents an irreplaceable loss of cultural diversity and unique worldviews. Preserving linguistic variety is thus essential for respecting and valuing the positive aspects of diverse cultures.
Topics
Language
