All we need from languages, is a way to communicate with others, and theoretically one is good enough. However, largely dispersed nations of the ancient times has resulted in more and more dialects and languages, to the degree they are so numerous now. On the other hand, as the nations are getting closer to each other, languages are facing a risk; Over 50% of the world's 6000 languages are endangered, and one language disappears on average every two weeks.
The UNESCO reports show 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. Many of these languages are not well established; numbers show that 80% of the African languages have no orthography.
The UNESCO decided to promote and safeguard endangered languages and linguistic diversity as an essential part of the living heritage of humanity, through its Endangered Languages Program. But I believe, with all respect to the nations heritage, that focusing on fewer languages, and promoting learning these languages is far better, and will get nations closer to each other and provide better communication through the Internet and future technologies. The question is: who will give up his language for the sake of others to stay?, and the answer is simply another question: should the English or Arabic disappear to promote a poor language spoken by few thousands and had no literature ?
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Languages ...
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6 comments:
peace be upon all the prophets and messengers, and the seal of all; Mohammad
thanks, you must have meant to comment on the "1500 years ago" post.... take care please
I have heard once about a project roposed by an Austrian, through which he wanted to unify the world by imposing one language. Is this acontinuation of it ?
Well, I have heared about that project, more than 30 year ago, and it was proposed by a Jewish man by the way. I am not proposing anything here, I am just stating a fact that the world does not need that many languages and barriers, and I dont suggest dropping languages that are worth to survive. While I believe the intention of that project was to put and end to the Arabic and Quran.
I think it is a pivotal issue; we need to do something for centuries to come, and being the tools for thinking, language is quite fatal to how we will look in the future generation's eyes. I agree with you dr. taisir although i think it is not quite easy to give up a language
Thanks for the input Dr. Riza, I hope we'll one day do something that goes beyond the unhumane borders of color, gender, birthplaces and the rest of unjust divide lines including the labguage, which is a truly a barrier without being thought of as one
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