Julio Enrique Arrieta Alvarado

A01370679
English


What Happens When a Language Dies?

It's not commonly known, but there are nearly seven thousand languages in the world.
People are typically surprised when they hear that figure and then their next reaction is
"Why didn't I know this before?" For me it is very impressive because I cant imagine the
number of words they exist and the different meanings words can have.
Is difficult to think that a language disappears because not only disappear the language,
sometimes the culture of that language also lost.
A language may at time disappear immediately when the last person speaking it passes
away. For example, there is only one person left speaking Siletz Dee-ni the last
language of 27 used by Indians residing in Siletz reservation. This language is practically
died.
It is sad that languages disappear because it is the most important way of
communication.
Dont only a language disappear, it lost the way people around the world express their
humor, love, life, etc. Sometimes people cant communicate with other person because
they dont know how to spell or speak the language of their region or country.
Every language reflects a unique world-view with its own value systems, philosophy and
particular cultural features. The extinction of a language results in the irrecoverable loss
of unique cultural knowledge embodied in it for centuries, including historical, spiritual
and ecological knowledge that may be essential for the survival of not only its speakers,
but also countless others.