There are at least 1,500 languages spoken in the world today that experts fear will be extinct by the end of this century, as there will be no one left to speak them.
Languages that are in danger of extinction are usually colloquial languages and have no script. They have very few speakers and their children prefer their mother tongues.
The exact number of languages spoken worldwide is unknown, but according to experts, the number of officially recognized languages is around 7,000, of which 1,500 are on the verge of extinction.
The results of a study led by linguists in Australia have been included in a report published on Friday in the scientific journal Nature Ecology and Evolution on biology and evolution.
Experts have examined the factors that put these languages underpressure.
Australian researchers say that as the road network around the world expands and cities become more connected to remote areas, developed languages spoken in cities, such as English, for example, will dominate indigenous languages in rural areas. Which is blocking the growth of local languages.
Researchers say that another reason for the danger of extinction of indigenous languages is that the practice of teaching in two languages in educational institutions is being abandoned and only developed languages are being given importance, which is detrimental. Reaching languages spoken in small populations.
Australian experts also say that Australia has the worst record of damaging indigenous languages and dialects, with the country's indigenous dialects suffering the most in the world.
Before the European colonization, 250 languages were spoken in Australia, but the number has dwindled to just 40, with only a dozen indigenous languages being taught to children.
Felicity McKinse, a professor at the University of Queensland in Australia who is involved in the study, says what is happening with regional languages is an ongoing process of colonization and globalization. We must not forget that any language-speaking community has its own history and experiences. And in many parts of the world, including Australia, indigenous languages have been silenced by the ruthless policies of the colonial system, which were designed to suppress languages.
"If we put Australia first, people here would be punished for speaking their native language, and the experiences were really painful for them, the effects of which shifted to the language abilities of the indigenous peoples," he said.
At a time when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is preparing to celebrate the Decade of Indigenous Languages from 2022, the report said. It is also an assurance that more measures are needed to protect endangered languages.
In the words of Professor Mackenzie, each language is a wonderful language of its own and an important part of human cultural diversity.
