Endangered Languages

Today, there are around 7,000 languages in the world according to UNESCO (Enoksson, 2019). Of these, about 3,000 are at risk of extinction. Some consider this a natural process, while others fight to preserve endangered languages. But what exactly causes certain languages to be at risk?

Language change is a natural part of societal development. The rules of language are not like the laws of mathematics — fixed and eternal — but consist of norms that shift over time. Attitudes about what is “right” or “wrong” language use can lead to individuals being judged as ignorant if they fail to keep up with changing norms (Palicki & Svensson, 2023). According to Marie Enoksson (2019), society’s view of a dominant language reflects how it values social power. It often becomes immediately clear if someone comes from another region, from abroad, or from a different linguistic background. Therefore, many people try to quickly adapt in order to blend in and not stand out.

Language death is not an isolated event, but is often linked to migration and economic factors. In order to support themselves, people are often forced to move — and with that comes the need to learn local customs and, most importantly, the dominant language. The pressure to speak the majority language increases. Urbanization, according to Enoksson (2022), is one of the main reasons the Sámi language is close to disappearing. Across the country, Sámi people have experienced a long-standing shift away from using their language at home or in public life. This clearly shows that assimilation is not simply a matter of individual choice — it is a systematic issue tied to politics and society.

Language death doesn’t happen overnight, but rather gradually over several generations. As Dahl (2019) explains, a language is threatened when speakers begin switching to another language in their everyday lives. He gives the example of two parents with different mother tongues — teaching children three or more languages for different contexts can become too difficult. Children then grow up using a home language, a school language, and a work language, while their friends may use other languages depending on their backgrounds. Even though a language carries deep cultural meaning, shared knowledge, and historical identity, it is lost if not regularly spoken. Typically, the language disappears completely by the second or third generation.

In fact, minority languages tend to disappear faster when national policies do not acknowledge or promote cultural diversity (Enoksson, 2019). A country’s official language use in schools, media, and government reflects how inclusive it is toward multilingual citizens. Both Dahl (2022) and Enoksson (2019) emphasize the importance of mother tongue education. To combat language death, stronger state support is needed to invest in diversity, rather than focusing only on one national language. As Dahl (2022) notes, Ireland serves as an inspiring example, where the republic has worked to reintroduce Irish as a national language.

In conclusion, multiple sources show that language death is neither a new nor isolated phenomenon. A variety of factors — social, political, and individual — contribute to the replacement of minority languages with dominant ones that are seen as more valuable. Globalization, urbanization, and migration often strip individuals of the context and support needed to maintain their mother tongue. Additionally, they face language shaming and social stigmatization for not using the majority language correctly. This ultimately leads many to abandon their heritage language in favor of the dominant, more influential one.

References:

1. Östen Dahl (2022). Språkets enhet och mångfald
2. Marie Enoksson (2019). Hotade språk, samer.se
3. Lena Lind Palicki & Anders Svensson (2023). Viktig svenska