RW Pyramids of Giza, Should We Save Dying Languages?

 By Nate Feldman

                                          Should People Try and Save Dying Languages

          According to researchers, there are 7,000 languages in the world, but every two weeks, one of them faces extinction.  This is because of a variety reasons, but quite often it is due the rising influence of dominant languages in the world.  However, there is an organization called “The Living Tongues” institute that sends its employees around the world to collect information about and record languages that may be dying.  However, is this a good idea?  Should they do this, or is this a waste of time.  In my opinion, preserving dying languages is useful. 

          The first reason it is useful is because as they said in the video, when a language dies, a lot of valuable information dies with it.  There were cultures that used that language for years, and if you lose the language, it’s almost as if that culture never existed in the first place.  I am sure they had stories and histories they used that language for.  So, it’s essential to keep the culture alive, and saving the language helps that. 

          Another reason it is useful is because who is to say our language will not disappear someday.  There is an assumption that because we speak something, it will always be spoken.  But, actually, that’s kind of sad to think that all we are doing now, will completely vanish. 

          Some people might argue that we have far more important things to do in this world besides saving languages.  We have to end poverty or end war.  Our focus should be on subjects like this, not saving a language that only a few hundred speak.   While I agree that the world faces many more serious problems, preserving culture should not be lost because of that.  And, in the long run, I think people will be happier, if they were able to save a language than just let it disappear.

          So, to conclude, many languages are dying now, but there are things we can do to save them.  And, if possible, we should support the groups like the Living Tongues Institute that do that stuff.  So, I hope we save more languages.

1.     Combine: to put two or more things together

*This class, combines reading activities with essay writing. 

     2. Many languages are critically endangered.

            *almost near death

3. died out: all gone

*An animal that is extinct died out. 

4. express: to show something

*I want to express my gratitude to you. 

5. rate: how fast or slow is happening

6. roughly: approximately

*There are roughly 1.5-2 million people in Philadelphia. 

7. highly: at an extremely level

*It’s highly important that you study every day.  It’s highly unlikely that you will study Apatani. 

8. political: something related to the country’s government system

*The two major political parties in the USA are the Democrats and the Republicans. 

9. rapidly: very quickly

10. perspective: opinion; point of view

*What is your perspective about dying languages?  


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