Endangered Languages

FAQ about Endangered Languages

Q What qualifies a language to be considered as an "endangered" one?
A. In most general terms, it means that parents are no longer teaching the language to their children and are not using it actively in everyday matters.
Q Of the present over 6,900 languages listed in the Ethnologue, how many are "endangered"?
A Estimates vary, but it is clear that hundreds of languages will not be passed on to the next generation. There is also some feeling among linguists who have considered the situation that perhaps over half of the world's languages are in this position. However, there is a lack of consistent evidence to always identify what linguists or news journalists mean by claiming that many languages are in an "endangered" state.
Q Why does a language become "endangered"?
A Factors that contribute to this condition are the small number of speakers, their ages, whether or not children are using the language, the use of other languages regularly in various cultural settings, feelings of ethnic identity and attitudes about their language in general, the urban drift of the (often younger) population, government and church policies, the language(s) used in education, as well as economic intrusion and exploitation. The language may also lack compelling influences to maintain its integrity, such as an alphabet, a body of literature, and dynamic users who read and write it. The language may also lack prestige and the passionate support of its speakers.
Q One of SIL's guiding principles is that "no language is too small." How does that statement fit with language endangerment?
A This principle affirms SIL's support of speakers of even smaller and lesser known language groups who may become proactive in language revitalization efforts. Over the years SIL has worked in language groups with only a few hundred speakers, groups that looked as if their language was dying out. Today many of these languages are thriving. SIL does not automatically conclude that a small language is not worth the effort for language development.
Q What criteria does SIL suggest as a guide to determine if language development is needed in a particular language group?
A The criteria are many, but the interest, requests, participation and decisions of the leaders of a particular language group are crucial. Various options may be proposed, but SIL exists to serve the people, as well as to help governments and churches in their efforts in language development.
Q How can I learn more about endangered languages?
A Check our Endangered Languages page for more reading about endangered languages and the list of other resources for links to outside resources. Also see Nearly Extinct Languages on the web version of the Ethnologue.