Just over ten years ago, the last native speaker of the Yurok language passed away. This marked the end of a language spoken by indigenous people in California for over 10,000 years. Sadly, Yurok is not alone; about nine languages become extinct every year. So, how is it possible that the total number of living languages is increasing?
Hi, I’m David, and this is MinuteEarth. While some languages are disappearing, others, like Lakurumau spoken by a small group in Papua New Guinea, are being documented for the first time. This is similar to how some animal species, like the gymnure, have been around for ages but are only recently being studied and described.
The main reason for the increase in the number of languages is that what was once thought to be a single language is now recognized as a group of similar but distinct languages. For example, until the early 2000s, experts considered Arabic, spoken by over a billion people, as one language. However, further study revealed that some versions of Arabic are so different that speakers cannot understand each other. As a result, what was once seen as one language is now recognized as more than 30 distinct languages.
This situation is similar to how scientists classify species. For a long time, giraffes were thought to be a single species. However, recent genetic research has identified four separate groups of giraffes, leading to a proposal to increase the official number of giraffe species.
Therefore, the number of known languages and described species is rising due to better documentation and categorization, not because there are more of them. While new species and languages do occasionally emerge, this process is slow. As our world becomes more connected, existing species and languages are disappearing faster than new ones are developing.
We might soon reach a point where we have documented nearly everything we can, yet we will continue to lose languages and species at an alarming rate. This paints a grim picture of the future.
However, there are cases where we can revive a language or species. For example, the Yurok language, which died in 2013, is now being taught in some high schools, with over 300 students speaking it proficiently. So, despite the loss of diversity, there are moments when life and language find a way to persist.
To better understand data, like the number of languages or species in the world, practice is essential. Brilliant offers interactive lessons in data analysis, math, programming, and AI, helping you build real skills through hands-on problem-solving. I’m currently exploring their new course on visual data analysis, working with real data sets from sources like Starbucks and Airbnb. To try everything Brilliant has to offer for free for 30 days, visit their website. You’ll also receive 20% off an annual premium subscription. Thanks, Brilliant!
Research a language that has been recently documented, like Lakurumau. Create a presentation that includes its location, number of speakers, and any unique linguistic features. Share your findings with the class to highlight the diversity of languages around the world.
Engage in a debate about whether certain dialects should be considered separate languages. Use Arabic as a case study and explore the criteria that linguists use to classify languages. This will help you understand the complexities of language classification.
Create a Venn diagram comparing the classification of languages and animal species. Identify similarities and differences in how new languages and species are documented and categorized. This activity will help you draw parallels between linguistic and biological diversity.
Learn about a language that has been revived, such as Yurok. Investigate the methods used to bring it back and discuss the importance of language preservation. Participate in a workshop where you learn basic phrases and cultural aspects of the language.
Explore data sets related to the number of languages or species. Use tools to analyze trends and patterns in the data. This hands-on activity will enhance your data analysis skills and provide insights into the factors affecting language and species diversity.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Just over a decade ago, the last native speaker of Yurok passed away, marking the end of a language that had been spoken by indigenous people in California for more than 10,000 years. Yurok is not alone; every year, an estimated nine languages become extinct. This raises the question: how are we seeing an increase in the total number of living languages over time?
Hi, I’m David, and this is MinuteEarth. While some languages are disappearing, others that have existed for a long time, such as Lakurumau, spoken by a small group of villagers in Papua New Guinea, are only now being documented by experts and added to the official count. This is similar to how certain species, like the gymnure, have been around for ages but are only recently being photographed and described.
The primary reason for the increase in living languages is the realization that what was once considered a single language is actually a group of similar but distinct languages. For example, until the early 2000s, most experts viewed Arabic, spoken by over a billion people, as one language. However, as linguists studied the various forms of Arabic, they discovered that some versions were so different that speakers could not understand each other. Consequently, what was once classified as one language is now recognized as more than 30 distinct languages.
This phenomenon is akin to developments in the classification of species. For a long time, scientists considered giraffes to be a single species, but recent genetic research has identified four separately evolving groups of giraffes, leading to a proposal to increase the official number of giraffe species.
Thus, the number of known languages and described species is officially rising, but this is due to improved documentation and categorization rather than an actual increase in diversity. While new species and languages do occasionally emerge, this process is slow. As our planet becomes more globalized, existing species and languages are disappearing at a faster rate than new ones are developing.
It’s likely that we will soon reach a point where we have documented nearly everything we can, yet we will continue to lose languages and species at an alarming rate, leading to a grim reality.
However, there are instances where we can revive a language or species. For example, the Yurok language, which died in 2013, is being taught in some high schools today, with over 300 students speaking it proficiently. So, despite the loss of linguistic and biological diversity, there are moments when life and language find a way to persist.
To engage with data, such as the number of languages or species in the world, you need practice. Brilliant offers thousands of interactive lessons in data analysis, math, programming, and AI, helping you build real skills through hands-on problem-solving. I’m currently exploring their new course on visual data analysis, working with real data sets from sources like Starbucks and Airbnb. To try everything Brilliant has to offer for free for 30 days, visit brilliant.org/MinuteEarth or click the link in the description. You’ll also receive 20% off an annual premium subscription. Thanks, Brilliant!
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This version maintains the original message while removing specific names and phrases that could be considered sensitive or inappropriate.
Languages – Systems of communication used by a particular community or country. – Many languages are spoken around the world, each with its own unique structure and vocabulary.
Species – A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. – The study of different species can help us understand the diversity of life on Earth.
Documentation – The process of recording information in written or electronic form. – Accurate documentation of historical events is crucial for understanding our past.
Classification – The action or process of categorizing something according to shared qualities or characteristics. – In linguistics, the classification of languages helps researchers understand their relationships and origins.
Arabic – A Semitic language spoken in many countries in the Middle East and North Africa. – Arabic is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world and has a rich literary tradition.
Yurok – A Native American language traditionally spoken by the Yurok people in California. – Efforts are being made to revitalize the Yurok language and preserve it for future generations.
Extinction – The state or process of a species, family, or larger group ceasing to exist. – Language extinction occurs when a language is no longer spoken by any living people.
Diversity – The state of being diverse; variety. – Cultural diversity is an important aspect of social studies, highlighting the variety of human societies and cultures.
Research – The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. – Linguistic research can reveal how languages evolve and influence each other over time.
Future – The time or a period of time following the moment of speaking or writing; time regarded as still to come. – The future of endangered languages depends on the efforts made today to preserve and revitalize them.
