Why Is Language Dying Out

Improved Essays
Languages are going extinct. According to the Huffington Post language is dying out faster than any other language. At a rate of one tongue every two weeks. That is faster than animal species are dying out (Underwood). People might say that is good that the smaller languages are dying out because no really spoke them anyway. The thing is that, it is really not good. Language gives us insight into the minds of the people who spoke it and tells us more about the past. As language gets more unified, people will get more unified. When people get more unified thoughts and ideas become unified. Being unified came be a good thing, but not when it takes away from creativity. That is why we need to preserve languages.
The origin of language is still
…show more content…
Like we primitive humans saw a wolf they might have gotten down on hands and knees and howled to try and communicate that there is a wolf nearby. There is an issue with this theory though. People today don’t go down on all fours and howl to say there is a wolf. In fact, onomatopoeia is a very small part of language today (Vajda ).
Language has an impact on the way that we see the world. For example, there is a place in Australia called Pormpuraaw, and in this culture direction plays a big role. When speaking the Pormpuraawan people use absolute direction to when speaking. In the language to say hello you say “Where are you going” and the response to that would have to be something like this “Not too far East.” In this language if you couldn’t tell what direction you are going then you couldn’t even say “Hello”
…show more content…
The French found it in Egypt in 1799 when they had control over Egypt. When the British defeated the French in 1802, Britain gained control over the Rosetta Stone. At the time Britain knew how to speak the language of ancient Greece (The Discovery and the Importance of the Rosetta Stone). Using that information, they were able to figure out what they rest of the stone meant. Since the stone said essentially the same thing in three different languages, Britain translated the hieroglyphics into Greek. They did the same process for the Demoic. The Rosetta Stone unlocked those two languages for us. Without it we would never know as much as we do about those two cultures.
Language is the thing that makes humans unique. Without it we would never have become what we are today. Language allows us to transcend time and gives us a view into the past. It also allows us to think and act the way we do. Most importantly it gave us the creativity to figure out the world and how it works. These are the reasons that we need to save language. The more languages we have the more we

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Final Analysis of a Nonfiction Text The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone was created by James Cross Giblin. This paper is about the finding of this precious stone and the attempt to decipher the Stone. Many scholars struggled to decipher the Rosetta Stone. As James Cross Giblin introduces readers to various scholars and their attempt to decipher the Stone, he highlights their confusions, failures, and ultimate success.…

    • 408 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The Rosetta Stone was found in Rosetta, Egypt by a group of French soldiers who were rebuilding a fort in 1799. It is a stone engraved with 3 different types of writing but the same paragraph. The top 2 paragraphs are Ancient Egyptian- hieroglyphic script and Demotic script while the bottom is in Ancient Greek. Why is it in three different scripts? The Rosetta Stone is written in three different types of writing because when it was written, there were three different types of writing being used in Egypt.…

    • 204 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    As the language also builds one’s worldview and belief, with the loss of language, it may be hard to understand the worldview and even…

    • 154 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Even if languages are preserved through technology, still, the desire among people to learn that specific language is never ending, because we perceive languages as art in our everyday life. “Writing is a relatively recent development in our history” therefore there are too few written records that can revive the language. However, if we have those languages preserved as an art form, there will always be people willing to study it or revive…

    • 971 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Language, how we communicate, is powerful because it can be used to stop wars or start them. If you didn’t know the right language to use with someone or didn’t use the correct language then we would have ineffective communication. For example when groups go on mission trips or even just go out of the country for fun they have to use a translator if they don’t know the language. Why? you may ask.…

    • 463 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Language defines who we are as a species. Our thoughts, our ideas, our ability to interact, each play a paramount role in the mark our species leaves on Earth. Words are the driving force behind mankind's greatest accomplishments and endless triumphs, the vanguards of eras and intricate network of doorways that expand deep into each and every one of our minds. In addition, it paves the way for generation after generation to progress and shape the world in a positive and educated manner.…

    • 499 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Many things have come, and many have gone, but there are only three things that symbolizes culture. Those three things are language, technology, and also being an American. Technology has not been apart of the culture until it started to make the big time in the early 2000’s. Over hundreds of years every one of these has improved in some sort way. Language goes a long way in everyones life.…

    • 623 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What is self-serving bias? Self-serve bias is when one always assumes the best of him/herself. Ex: if an individual’s group won an award, he/she will take pride in what the group did, and claim they won the award because of him/her.…

    • 1237 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A button/pin is being promoted by the Cherokee Nation right now that simply states "Think Cherokee. " In your view, what does that mean? In my view 'thinking Cherokee' means thinking about life through the perspective of a Cherokee, and using the knowledge of general history and cultural matters to deeper explore worldly matters. Although I have a vague understanding of the slogan, I am irresolute of what it really means, as I am largely disconnected from my Cherokee roots.…

    • 815 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Language is the molding clay, it can personalize a view more than any other form of communication. It is the foundation of self expression and the tool to countless opportunities. When an individual speaks fluently they are granted the ability to vocalize their thoughts, messages, feelings and basic information. It is a manipulator that leads us to gain some momentum in our lives and increase our optimism. Language can broaden your horizon in an intellectual manner, it can also have a dramatic affect on the people you communicate with.…

    • 963 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    The Effects of Language on Expression of Emotion In both 1984 by George Orwell and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the societies are depriving themselves of language. Fahrenheit 451 presents us with the horror of a society choosing to discard all that elicits deeper, meaningful thoughts. Combined with the nightmare portrayed in 1984 of a world systematically destroying their own tools to communicate with others, I decided to look into what effects language has on the expression of emotion in our society today. Language consistently conveys critical messages which are necessary to move forward.…

    • 1841 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Navajo Language

    • 1210 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Linguistic major Kangas(2009) says, “ Linguistic and cultural diversity on the one hand and biodiversity on the other hand are correlated, where one type is high, the other one is usually too, and vice versa, even if there are exceptions”(13). This quote emphasizes the fact the the loss of language affects everything else because culture depends on language, so when languages are lost the overall cultural diversity and population diversity is also lost. Along with that David (2010) says that, “ Language represents the most creative, pervasive aspect of culture, the most intimate side of the mind. The loss of language diversity will mean that we will never even have the opportunity to appreciate the full creative capacities of the human mind”.…

    • 1210 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    With just a paper and a pen, the power of language can transform the world around you. Language has established a system of human communication, incorporating the application of words in a structured and customary way. Its purpose can profess emotions from one human to another and suddenly make you feel the lost emotions inside of yourself. In Coming Into Language written by Jimmy Santiago Baca, he emphasizes his wildly dangerous journey of life and being found in the influence of language within the walls of his jail cell.…

    • 1231 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In the U.S., for example, the primary language then was English. A language that came with the early settlers, and a language that simply had money tied to its roots. To emphasize, the reason why the English language is still around today, is due to the fact that it’s simply a rich language. A language that carries meaning to it, and a language that associated with wealth, a strong military, and economic power. According to Tore Janson, the author of “Speak: a short history of languages,” the reason why most languages are either extinct, or endangered has to deal with resources (17).…

    • 2026 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Language And Literacy

    • 2167 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Language and Literacy for teachers Assessment 1 Thesis A child’s language development is intertwined with all other areas of their development and therefore it plays an integral role in their cognitive and intellectual growth. Introduction Language is an abstract set of principles that specify the relationship between a sequence of sounds and a sequence of meanings. Everyday life constitutes and intrinsic part of the way language is used.…

    • 2167 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays