Why Languages Are Dying—and Why We Should Care

 

અગાઉ માતૃભાષા માટે તમારું ખિસકોલી કર્મ કેટલું? - વિષયક ગુજરાતી ભાષામાં લેખ લખેલો યાદ છે ને...? તો હવે એ જ બાબત અંગ્રેજીમાં થોડા અલગ લહેકા સાથે. 

Language is more than just words. It is memory, culture, identity, and life itself. Across the world, thousands of languages are disappearing, often without people even noticing. Out of nearly 7,000 known languages, about 2,500 are now endangered. On average, one language dies every two weeks. India, with its incredible language diversity, has the highest number of endangered languages—197 in total. As these languages fade away, so do the stories, traditions, and wisdom of the people who speak them. And that should matter to all of us.

In India alone, over 250 languages have died in the last sixty years. Many tribal languages in the Himalayan region such as Ahom, Andro, Rangkas, and Tolcha have already disappeared. These were once rich traditions passed down by word of mouth, filled with songs, folk tales, and ancient knowledge. Now they are gone forever. UNESCO groups endangered languages into different levels of danger—from vulnerable to critically endangered—but the result is the same: the slow death of a language means the slow death of a culture.

Let’s take Mandeali, a language spoken in Himachal Pradesh. In 1961, it had a large number of speakers. But by 2001, the number had dropped sharply. Today, it is listed as "vulnerable." Another example is Gorum, a tribal language spoken in Odisha. It has fewer than 20 speakers left. Young people don’t understand it anymore, and no one is learning it. Without urgent action, these languages may be lost forever. Others like Rongpo and Kullui, spoken in remote valleys, are in similar danger. Migration, lack of education in mother tongues, and the influence of bigger languages are pushing them towards extinction.

So why are languages dying? There are many reasons. First, children today grow up speaking more popular languages like Hindi, English, or other regional official languages. These are the languages taught in schools, used in exams, and needed for jobs. Second, families move to cities and stop using their native language at home. The chain of learning from grandparents to grandchildren gets broken. Third, there is often a feeling that tribal or minority languages are “less important” or “backward.” Many parents want their children to focus on languages that will help them succeed, and this mindset slowly kills native tongues.

Climate change is also making things worse. In places like Bihar, floods and changing weather patterns are forcing families to leave their ancestral villages. As they move to cities, their old languages begin to vanish. Words like “tree,” “rain,” or “bird” no longer hold the same meaning in an unfamiliar environment. The songs and proverbs that once described nature lose their relevance when nature itself disappears. Every time a language dies, we lose more than just words. We lose stories, songs, knowledge about plants and animals, and ways of understanding the world. We lose a way of thinking. Each language carries its own history and values. Without it, our human heritage becomes poorer. Language is not just a tool of communication; it is a treasure chest of culture, emotion, and identity.

Thankfully, some efforts are being made to stop this loss. The Indian government has started a program to protect and preserve endangered languages. Under this program, experts are creating dictionaries, textbooks, and recordings of rare languages. Some universities and research institutes are documenting local dialects and working with communities to keep them alive.

In other countries, too, people are fighting back. In Nigeria, activists are saving the Igbo language by recording traditional stories. In Kenya, a teacher is bringing back the Yaakunte language by teaching it in schools. In India, people are recording Angika folk songs and uploading them online. These actions may seem small, but they are powerful steps toward saving a culture. Technology can also help. Some Indian developers have created mobile apps and digital dictionaries for languages like Gondi. These tools help people learn and use their native languages, even if they live far from their hometowns. Artificial intelligence is being used to build language tools that can recognize and translate tribal languages, making them more accessible to young users.

Another important solution is education. Children should be taught in their mother tongue in the early years. This builds confidence and helps them understand lessons better. UNESCO supports this idea and says multilingual education can reduce school dropout rates and promote equality. But much more needs to be done. Families must speak their native language at home. Local media should include programs in minority languages. Cultural events should celebrate regional languages through music, dance, and storytelling. People should feel proud of their mother tongue, not ashamed.

Why does all this matter? Because when a language dies, it takes with it an entire way of seeing the world. We lose ideas, wisdom, and beauty that no other language can replace. We also lose our connection to our roots. When we stop speaking our native language, we often stop asking questions about our own history, ancestors, and traditions. India, being the land of languages, has a bigger responsibility than most other countries. If we can protect our languages, we protect our culture. If we let them die, we become poorer as a nation. We should not let fast development, globalization, or social pressure erase the beauty of our diversity. As readers, we can help. Encourage children to speak their mother tongue. Watch shows or listen to music in your native language. Share stories in your family’s original tongue. Support local language books and programs. Create pride, not pressure.

In today’s fast-moving world, where everything is becoming digital and global, our languages remind us who we are. They are the bridge between our past and our future. Let us not break that bridge. Let us save our languages before they become just memories. Because when a language lives, a culture breathes. And when it dies, something within all of us fades away too.