Endangered Languages
A loss of language is a loss of indigenous knowledge: history, rituals, even farming and medicinal (healing) practices. According to the UN and UNESCO there were between 7,000 and 8,000 distinct languages. Now, over 50% of the world's 6000 languages spoken today are endangered. Half of those languages have fewer than 10,000 speakers, a quarter have fewer than 1,000 and 96% are spoken by only 4% of the global population, mostly by indigenous groups.
The Foundation for Endangered Languages reports that Africa - linguistically the least known continent - is one of most affected, where 250 languages could be lost for ever. And of the 1,400 languages - used by the continent's 700 million population - at least 500 are on the decline.
What is an endangered language: definitions
See which languages are endangered around the world: UNESCO Red Book of Endangered Languages
Read a story about the last speakers of Kawesqar: New York Times