More or Less: Behind the Stats
Does a language die every two weeks?
Aug 3, 2024
Gary Simons, an executive editor at Ethnologue, delves into the alarming state of global languages, revealing that while 7,164 languages exist, many are at risk. He critically examines claims that a language dies every two weeks, questioning the accuracy of such statistics. Simons discusses the impact of urbanization, migration, and colonialism on language loss and emphasizes the role of communities in language preservation. With fresh data suggesting lower extinction rates than feared, he highlights hope amidst the crisis.
09:49
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Quick takeaways
- Research reveals that one language is dying every 40 days, challenging the common but inaccurate statistic of every two weeks.
- The classification of languages as 'doomed' highlights the urgent need for understanding demographic trends among speakers to prevent cultural loss.
Deep dives
Statistics of Language Extinction
Research indicates that approximately one language is predicted to die every 40 days, significantly contradicting the widely cited statistic of one every two weeks. This figure originated from a rough estimate made by linguist David Crystal, who calculated this rate based on diverging projections of language loss over the century. He suggested that if half of the world's languages were to vanish, this would translate to a language dying every fourteen days. However, actual data reveal that only 184 languages have been confirmed as extinct over the first twenty years of this century, underscoring the importance of accurate data collection in understanding language viability.
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