7,000+ Spoken Languages Today, But Nearly Half Are Endangered
- Dina Ayele
- Sep 16
- 1 min read
Updated: Nov 4
As global powers prioritize a handful of widely spoken languages, thousands of smaller languages face extinction. The question is, what can we do to stop it?
Written By Dina Ayele
More than 7,000 languages are spoken across the globe, all the way from the bustling streets of New York City to the remote villages of the Himalayas.
Nearly 3,000 of those languages (almost half!) are currently endangered and the numbers will only continue to rise.
How have we gotten to this point?
Languages like English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin are prioritized in schools, universities, jobs, and communities.
Smaller, lesser known languages are often pushed aside because they’re seen as “less useful.”
In some countries, governments have even discouraged or banned the use of certain languages in schools or media, making it harder for them to survive.
Taking Action.
Every two weeks, another language disappears somewhere on this earth. The best way to save a language? Pass it down at home.
Use your power to advocate for schools to teach and acknowledge indigenous and minority languages.
Preserving a language safeguards centuries of culture, history, and identity, giving all of us a key role in keeping it alive for generations to come.
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