The Observatoire Linguistique, based in Wales, has identified more than 10,000 living languages. Dr Dalby, the director of the observatory, considered that reports that a third of spoken tongues would become extinct in the next few years were “absolute rubbish” and that the majority of languages were not being destroyed by an increase in the use of English.
“We need a diversity of language because multilingualism is a normal and healthy part of the way human society is organized. Language is a means of personal and group identity,” explained Dr Dalby. He also referred to the possibility of one language becoming a world language, although he believes that it should be developed alongside multilingualism since “learning in two languages sharpens the wits”. “Monolingualism is a disadvantage like illiteracy, and this is a serious danger for anglophones. Bilingualism should be regarded as an educational norm.”
UNESCO estimates over 8,000 languages
UNESCO presents a different picture, however, estimating that there are over 8,300 languages, of which 7,000 are in use and 2,600 are endangered.
UNESCO experts believe that about 1,500 languages spoken today will disappear by the end of the 21st century if nothing is done to help communities maintain their mother tongues and pass them on to new generations, thus contributing to a loss of cultural wealth and ancestral knowledge.
A useful tool for those interested in languages is UNESCO’s Interactive Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger at https://en.wal.unesco.org/discover/languages. You can browse through this interface, using different combinations of search criteria and you can even submit your own comments and suggestions.
Recent multilingual interpretations
Although we can’t claim to speak even a fraction of the thousands of languages that exist throughout the world, we frequently organize events with three languages at the same time. The most recent of these was a few weeks ago with Spanish, French and Portuguese, but, surprisingly, no English.
K’iche’ translator wanted
Some time ago, we received a request for a translator from K’iche’, one of the Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala, to English. I referred the person to the Mayan Language Academy of Guatemala, but if you know anyone with this language combination, please let us know.