Forced migration is a major cause of language extinction. Environmental disasters are driving these displacements in the very regions richest in languages.
Forced migration is a major cause of language extinction. Environmental disasters are driving these displacements in the very regions richest in languages.
I’d argue it’s a good thing if more people speak the same language(s). There’s no need for segregation based on language barriers.
having a common shared language is one thing – but it should be in addition to whatever other languages are in place (ie. a lingua franca), it should not be at the expense of linguistic and cultural erasure (ex. English global hegemony)
Why not?
I don’t see why one would prefer having to learn and use a second language, which they’re not as familiar with as with their first language, instead of just using their first language everywhere.
Having everyone always use the same language would not just ease direct communication, it would also help making (cultural and scientific) assets more accessible, because they wouldn’t need to be translated.
Most people only watch movies in their first language. If the movie happens to initially be released in a different language, they only get access to that movie at a later time, if ever.
Same for many other things. Many people post recipes they like online. Often in their first language. People who don’t speak that language will never get to see those recipes. (Unless they use a translation tool to understand the recipe, which most won’t do. Most will just use a recipe written in their first language.)
This hinders cultural (and scientific) exchange.
I believe that the culture that is erased by deprecating a language is insignificant when compared to the cultural exchange lost to language barriers.
cultural genocide
I encourage you to express this opinion on a native american reservation and see what happens.
I don’t speak english as a first language either. I’m german. But I’d happily enact english as the official language in Germany, eventually replacing german altogether.
The death of a language is also the death of an entire culture, shared wisdom, perspectives and experiences. There is nothing good about it. We should be striving for unity in diversity, and not homogeneity.