2. The time may soon come when we say goodbye to most of the world’s languages. Today humans express themselves in over 6,000 different languages, but that is quickly changing. Many experts predict that over half of these languages will disappear within the next 50 years. After 100 years, the world may use only a dozen major languages.

3. Why? When people from different cultures live and work together much more than before, change takes place. The languages of the world’s dominant cultures are replacing those of the smaller cultures. You’re learning English right now. Could this be the beginning of the end for the Chinese language? Of course not. Mandarin remains the healthy, growing language at the heart of Chinese culture.

4. Mandarin steadily continues to spread among Chinese people worldwide. Elsewhere, Swahili grows in Africa. Spanish continues to thrive in South America. Hindi rules India. And of course almost everyone these days wants to learn English. However, many less common regional languages haven’t been so lucky, because most young people have stopped learning them.

5. When less common languages disappear, two factors are to blame: trade and technology. Most international trade takes place in major world languages such as English or Mandarin. Cultures that isolate themselves from international business and major world languages have difficulty prospering.

6. Most children respect their own culture and traditions. But when it comes to getting a job, knowing a major world language is often essential. It may mean the difference between success and failure. For many, using a less common regional language simply isn’t very helpful in today’s world.

7. Technology affects languages in an even more fascinating way. Modern media such as radio and television give young people in developing countries much knowledge about the world. These young people can learn about places they ’ ve never visited. Their minds open to new events and ideas.

8. This knowledge doesn ’ t come in words from the mouths of their parents or the elders in their community. It usually comes in the language of a dominant culture. It ’ s not surprising then that young people are drawn away from their regional languages.

9. Many benefits come when different cultures begin to share a common language. Instead of struggling for words, people can quickly share ideas and work together. Knowing the same language gives people from different places common ground. A shared language means easier communication and a foundation for trust. If people know a widely spoken language, they need not fear traveling to faraway places. And their career options grow as well.

10. People will find their lives enriched by knowing a widely spoken language. Then, is the death of a less common regional language such a terrible thing? The answer is maybe. Many cultures express special knowledge through language.

11. For example, in Australia one aboriginal language has unique words for many strange local plants. Some of these plants can be used for curing skin disease. Other cultures may also have words for many useful things we know nothing about. If their languages die, their valuable wisdom may be lost forever.

12. Sadly, today’s endangered languages will soon disappear because of the realistic needs of trade and science. Cultures with only a few speakers left will make an effort to preserve their languages, but such efforts will fail simply because there will be no place for them in the modern world.