Buzz
For many embarking on the journey of learning a new language, the primary focus often lies in mastering verb conjugations and forming grammatically correct sentences. The idea that the language itself might vanish entirely is rarely a consideration.
Yet, this concern deserves more attention. With the rise of digitalization, several once-thriving languages are rapidly fading away. Below is a list of ten foreign languages that face extinction in the coming decades unless immediate efforts are made to preserve them.
10. Te Reo Māori
Te Reo Māori is the native tongue of the Māori, the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. The Māori, who trace their origins to Polynesia, migrated to New Zealand around a millennium ago, between 1200 and 1300 AD.
Despite being the original inhabitants of Aotearoa, these individuals have faced prolonged discrimination. Until the 1980s, the Te Reo language and nearly all aspects of Māori culture were prohibited. Speaking the language could lead to severe consequences, and during a time when corporal punishment was common in schools, most avoided using it altogether.
As a result, the language has been declining, with experts warning it could vanish by 2100 if no action is taken. Fortunately, New Zealand’s government has recently taken steps to revive Te Reo, integrating it into school programs and promoting its everyday use to safeguard the nation’s indigenous heritage.
9. Nam Trik
Nam Trik may not be as widely known as Te Reo Māori, but it faces a similar threat of extinction. Spoken by the Misak people in the Colombian Andes, it is also referred to as Guambiano.
This language belongs to the Barbacoan family, a group of six languages spoken in southern Colombia and northern Ecuador.
Sadly, only a few thousand people speak the language today, as Spanish has become the official language in both countries, overshadowing indigenous languages like Nam Trik. This decline is due to insufficient government initiatives to protect the language and a failure to pass it down through generations.
While many young Misak individuals understand Nam Trik, few actively speak it, putting the language at risk of disappearing within this generation.
8. Yiddish
Yiddish, one of the more surprising entries on this list, originated in Israel and is predominantly used within Jewish communities. It carries a rich cultural heritage that reflects the Jewish way of life.
Despite its cultural significance, Yiddish is rapidly declining. The Holocaust during WWII, which led to the genocide of millions of Jewish people in Europe, significantly reduced the number of speakers, causing the language to fade.
Although Yiddish was nearly eradicated during this tragic period in Europe, it continues to survive, albeit barely. Jewish communities in areas like New York and Israel are reviving the language, emphasizing its teaching to younger generations. These efforts may help remove Yiddish from the endangered list and restore its prominence.
7. Icelandic
Icelandic has been battling extinction for years. The digital age has led many young Icelanders to learn English through TV, online platforms, and video games. Additionally, they increasingly mix English words into their speech, replacing traditional Icelandic terms.
Moreover, as modern technology introduces terms like “computer” or “cellphone,” Icelanders often adopt these English words instead of using Icelandic equivalents.
While the Icelandic Language Committee creates new Icelandic words for modern concepts, the challenge lies in their lack of usage. Furthermore, Iceland’s immigrant population has grown fivefold since 2008, resulting in more individuals who either don’t speak or have limited proficiency in Icelandic.
It remains to be seen whether the government’s initiatives to save the language will succeed or if the nation’s roughly 350,000 inhabitants will gradually transition to using English exclusively.
6. Bavarian
Germany is home to numerous dialects, with Bavarian being one of the most recognized. Spoken in the Bavaria region, it is used in major cities such as Munich, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Ingolstadt, and Augsburg.
Despite encompassing these cities and having a population of around 12 million, only about half of the residents actually speak Bavarian.
Most young Germans in Bavaria are learning “Hochdeutsch,” or standard German, instead. This shift is largely driven by schools and media, which predominantly use standard German.
Despite the dominance of standard German, many Bavarian locals are resisting this trend. Families are encouraged to continue using Bavarian at home to ensure its survival and prevent it from disappearing.
5. Irish
Despite being recognized as an official language of Ireland in 2007, Irish, or Gaeilge, is in decline. Currently, there are only an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 speakers, a small fraction of Ireland’s population.
Like many endangered languages, this decline stems from historical legislation. As early as the 1300s, the United Kingdom banned Irish among English settlers and native Irish interacting with them. By the 1500s, the language was prohibited in Parliament.
It wasn’t until the late 20th and early 21st centuries that Irish began to recover. Today, it is taught in schools as part of a government initiative to revive this vital aspect of Irish culture.
4. Welsh
Similar to Irish Gaelic, Welsh is another UK language facing rapid decline and potential extinction if not preserved. Once again, this is largely due to historical legislation by Great Britain.
While the UK didn’t restrict Welsh as early as Irish, by 1500, laws were enacted to ban its use in Parliament. Two centuries later, English became the sole language permitted in legal courts.
Fortunately, the 1967 Welsh Language Act recognized the language, with further amendments in 1993 to bolster its support. Today, about 19% of Wales’ population speaks Welsh. However, with the language declining again, it could vanish within a few decades.
3. Jeju
Jeju Island, often referred to as the Hawaii of Korea, is a small island located off the southern coast of South Korea and is a popular honeymoon spot.
Although most residents and visitors speak Korean, the island has its own language called Jejueo. This language is not widely spoken, with only around 5,000 speakers estimated.
Interestingly, Jejueo uses the same alphabet as standard Korean, but it is incomprehensible to Korean speakers. This makes it quite perplexing!
The decline of Jejueo is attributed to several factors, primarily the Jeju uprising and the Korean wars in the mid-1900s. Today, only a small portion of the elderly population on Jeju Island and a tiny community in Japan speak the language. However, ongoing revitalization efforts may determine whether Jejueo can make a recovery.
2. Coptic
Coptic is often regarded as a nearly extinct language, but it still clings to life. This is surprising, given its close connection to ancient Egyptian.
Although Coptic is rarely spoken in everyday life, it remains the official language of the Coptic Orthodox Church and Coptic Catholic Church in Egypt.
Church services in these denominations are conducted in Coptic, requiring parishioners to have a basic understanding. Additionally, the churches now offer Coptic courses to help revive the language. While it may not become a native tongue, there are several fluent speakers in Egypt today.
1. Greenlandic
If Icelandic is declining, Greenlandic faces a similar fate. This language comprises 20 dialects, with Kalaallisut being the most prominent.
Contrary to popular belief, Greenlandic is spoken in several regions. It is one of the languages used by the Inuit Eskimo tribes, which are located in Alaska, Canada, and Denmark.
Although the language extends beyond Greenland, it is still at risk of extinction. With only around 57,000 residents in Greenland and not all of them fluent in Greenlandic, the language could disappear soon without preservation efforts.
