Social 10-2

 Why is Language Diversity Important? Chinese, English and Spanish are the three most popular languages in the world, in terms of number of people who speak them. According to figures from UNESCO, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The most widely spoken language on earth is Mandarin whish used as a first language by nearly a billion people.

Second on the list is English with around 358 million followed by Spanish. UNESCO estimates that over 50% of the world’s 6900 languages are endangered and that one language disappears on average every 2 weeks. It notes that 96% of the world’s 6000 languages are spoken by 4% of the world’s population and 90% of the world’s languages are not represented on the Internet.

1. Loss of Identity – Language transmits culture. People identify their culture closely with how they communicate. Losing Language then is losing collective/ individual identity. “Eh” – Canadian vs. Universal English American? 2. Loss of Knowledge – Language is a human knowledge base. Many cultures have no written tradition. Within language then is a vast source of history, beliefs and scientific knowledge.

80% of species are undiscovered by science, but not necessarily unknown to humanity. In Bolivia, the Kallawaya people, have been traditional herbalists since the time of the Inca Empire. Within their language is information about thousands of medicinal plants, some previously unknown to science, that the Kallawayas use as remedies.

3. Loss of Cultural Insight words shape how you see the world, and a language monoculture would mean a monoculture of thought as well, as sharp limitation in our ability to think. Thus, language gives humanity diverse perspectives and cultural enrichment.

 What are Linguistic Rights? The right to chose the language or languages for communicating in a private or public atmosphere (education, media, government, court) regardless of ethnicity or the number of speakers of a language in a given territory.  How can language be revitalized? Some languages policies are national, like the Official languages act, while others are regional.

 In 2004, the government of the Northwest Territories introduced a policy requiring school boards to provide 90 hours of instruction in Aboriginal languages every year.  Many cultures fear globalization is threatening their intangible heritage – things that aren’t solid or permanent. ( carnivals, songs, theatre, stories, poetry, dance etc) Many if these “intangibles” transmit culture, knowledge and understanding and are thus seen as critical to preserve.