There are around 7,000 languages spoken in the world, but that number is shrinking. Unesco estimates that half could disappear by the end of the century. So how are languages lost, and what does that mean for the people who speak them?
There are around 7,000 languages spoken in the world, but that number is shrinking. Unesco estimates that half could disappear by the end of the century. So how are languages lost, and what does that mean for the people who speak them?
Yes language can be part of national and cultural identity, and i agree oppressing it is absolutely 100% wrong, it’s actually also considered genocide to do so, exactly because it erases a culture against the will of the people who ascribe to it. And I specifically stated that of course genocide isn’t acceptable.
But in a situation where different cultures integrate, like in USA, people from different backgrounds get married and have children.
So if a Polish and a Spanish person for instance fall in love, it’s a huge advantage that they have a common language, and when they raise their children it would be obvious to use that. They probably keep many elements from their old culture, but at the same time adopt new things from other cultures.
This way over generations this new American culture which consist of elements from many cultures arises, and elements of the old cultures disappear.
As I see it, this has created one of the worlds richest cultures in USA in record time. And for by far the most Americans I bet this is a net gain, compared to the singular culture they were originally limited to.
In my country we have also seen an influx of immigrants, mostly since the 60’s. And it’s very obvious to me that this has enriched our culture tremendously. Especially on food.
So modern day danish culture has changed a lot since the 70’s, and that change is enrichment IMO, and hopefully to the immigrants too. But Muslim men can’t have multiple wives here, because that’s illegal. Is that cultural oppression?