{"id":3096,"date":"2024-01-24T15:46:26","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T21:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cantalk.com\/?p=3096"},"modified":"2024-02-01T15:37:39","modified_gmt":"2024-02-01T21:37:39","slug":"why-indigenous-languages-are-disappearing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cantalk.com\/why-indigenous-languages-are-disappearing\/","title":{"rendered":"A Silent Crisis: Understanding Why Indigenous Languages are Disappearing"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, indigenous peoples make up<\/span> less than 6%<\/span><\/a> of the world’s total population but <\/span>speak more than 4,000 of our estimated 6,700 languages. <\/b>This staggering statistic puts into perspective the extremely small pools of native speakers currently keeping many indigenous languages alive. It highlights the inherent fragility of thousands of languages around the globe.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your native language is a dominant international language, the threat of it going extinct may seem remote. But today, one indigenous language dies permanently every two weeks. A multitude of languages exist in a vulnerable, threatened state (in Canada alone, more than 40 indigenous languages had<\/span> 500 speakers or less<\/span><\/a> in 2016). More than half of the world’s languages are considered to be<\/span> at risk of dying out<\/span><\/a> before the end of the 21st century.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Should We Care?<\/h2>\n

For all the same reasons we should care that species are becoming extinct or we are losing native habitats or extinguishing biodiversity on a daily basis!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Indigenous languages represent infinitely more than a simple means of communication. Innate within them are the cultures, histories, and world views of the people who have spoken them throughout time. Stories, songs, prayers, and poetry in native tongues express shared ways of thinking, interacting, and being that define, enliven, and bind cultures together. When an indigenous language becomes endangered, the heritage and identity of the people who have spoken that language are inevitably also in peril.<\/span><\/p>\n

Loss of languages also means the loss of traditional understanding of native plants, subtle relationships to the environment, generational knowledge of plants to treat illnesses and diseases.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a leader in the languages services industry, by the very nature of its services, CanTalk is proud to be at the forefront to help preserve and revitalize indigenous languages throughout Canada and internationally.The United Nations recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples to revitalize, use, develop, and transmit their languages to future generations, and the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2022-2023 as the<\/span> International Decade of Indigenous Languages<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At CanTalk, we are committed to opening channels of communication while actively honouring and connecting indigenous language speakers around the globe. Our language services offer a natural platform for education and reconciliation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Indigenous languages are losing ground\u2026what does it all mean?<\/h2>\n

Historical Context<\/h3>\n

Languages and cultures have risen, evolved, and naturally died out since the dawn of time. So, what distinguishes the current threats facing indigenous languages from the threats that have faced certain languages at so many other points throughout history?<\/span><\/p>\n

The sheer speed and global nature of indigenous language loss at this moment in time is unparalleled and unprecedented. Thousands of indigenous languages are currently facing the risk of permanent extinction across the world, and meaningful action must be taken to develop and implement effective preservation and revitalization strategies before it’s too late.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Languages Die in the First Place<\/h3>\n

Languages can die out for a multitude of different reasons. Throughout history, these have included:<\/span><\/p>\n