Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Liz Waid.

 

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　　And I'm Joshua Leo. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

 

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　　Today's Spotlight is on Lost Languages - languages that people no longer use.

 

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　　That was a recording of a South African language. It contains the first part of a lullaby, a song that is sung to children to help them sleep. As you heard, the language contains clicks. This language existed until the nineteen thirties but no one speaks it any more. It is extinct, it is a lost language.

 

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　　There are more than six thousand languages spoken in the world today. An estimated two to three thousand of them will likely disappear in the next ten or twenty years.

 

　　Some people may be surprised at the large number of languages spoken today. And some people may think that it is not important if some languages disappear. Some people may even think that life would be EASIER if there were fewer languages.

 

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　　Today, only four languages are spoken by more than 500 million people each. Many languages have millions of speakers, but many others are spoken by less than five hundred people each. Does it matter? Should we be concerned about the future of these languages?

 

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　　Imagine that your language is spoken by only a small number of people. Maybe it is! How would you know if it were in danger of dying out completely?

 

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　　For example, thirty people in Cameroon speak a language called Twendi. Half a million people in Wales speak the Welsh language. These numbers are very small - especially when compared with the many millions who speak English, for example. Can we say that these languages are in danger?

 

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　　A number of things can help to identify an endangered language. Clearly, the number of people speaking it is important evidence. But other things need to be considered too. If schools do not teach the language, this can help towards its death. If magazines, newspapers, television and radio do not use it, this too can help it to die. If governments show no concern for it when it is in trouble, there can be a problem. If there is not much interest in, or support for, a language, then it could be endangered.

 

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　　So we return to our earlier question: does it matter if languages die? Some people say that it does not matter. The idea is that it would be easier for world communications if there were only a few languages spoken in the world. Maybe there would be less conflict between people groups if they all spoke the same language. It is easy to imagine the benefits this would be in the social life, politics and economy of countries.

 

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　　Many people may agree with this idea in general. But those people would probably not approve of the idea if their own language had to die. This would be the language in which they connect with family, friends and people in their community. This would be the language in which they expressed their first emotions, hopes and dreams. This would be the language that shaped their first understanding of the human and physical environment. And this would be the language that carries their traditions and culture. The rich human experience contained in its sounds and stories would be lost for all time. So people would probably not be willing to give up their own language - even to improve world communications.

 

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　　Languages are not just tools for everyday communicating. Languages are treasure stores of human life and feeling. Language can also be connected with religion - classical Arabic for the Quran, Sanskrit for Hindu writings, and so on. Christian tradition is not tied to a particular language. In fact the Bible tells of an event that suggests that God values language differences.

 

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　　The Bible says the event happened a short time after Jesus died, rose again and went to heaven. This was nearly two thousand years ago. Adam Navis tells the story.

 

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　　The followers of Jesus were all gathered in one place. Suddenly, a sound came from heaven. It was like a strong wind blowing. It filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw something that looked like flames or tongues of fire. The flames separated and settled on them - settled on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in languages they had not known before. The Holy Spirit gave them the power to do this.

 

　　People from many countries were visiting the city for special religious ceremonies. When they heard this sound, they came running to see what it was all about. They were greatly surprised to hear their own languages being spoken by the followers of Jesus. 'How can this be?' they asked. 'These people are all from one small area. Yet we all hear them speaking in our own languages! They are saying wonderful things about God in our own languages!'

 

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　　A man called Peter had been one of Jesus' close followers. He stood up and told the people what this miracle meant. Peter's message on that day is still the basic belief for Christians today. He said that God sent Jesus Christ into the world - yet evil men killed Jesus. But then God raised Jesus from the dead - and Jesus now lives! God has made Jesus Lord of all. Peter said that anyone of any language could place their faith in Jesus. 'Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved'. Christians believe that every person has done wrong at some time, so all of us need saving from our wrongdoings - our sins. Because of Peter's message, about three thousand people turned to Jesus Christ in faith that day. They were the first people ever to do so. Since then, millions of people from all nations and languages have done the same.

 

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　　The death of languages causes concern because they go right to the roots of human experience - even people's experience of God.

 

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　　When a language is lost, a way of understanding the world is also lost. And often, a language is lost when a community and traditional way of life is lost too. But sometimes, when a language is in danger, people are able to bring it back. Listen for another program coming soon, about languages that almost died. Through hard work, people are recovering these languages.

 

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　　What do you think about losing languages? Does it matter? Write and share your opinions. You can leave a comment or join a discussion of this subject on our website: http://www.radio.english.net Or yo.u can email us. Our email address is [email protected].

 

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　　The writers of today's programme were Becky Sharp and Christy VanArragon. The producer was Joshua Leo. The voices you heard were from the United States. This programme is called 'Disappearing Languages'. We hope that you can join us for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye!