Dying Languages.

[idiomasaur]

I care!

[andymooseman]

@idiomasaur I'm very pleased to hear it too.

[feelabeat]

great perspective on the subject. i also think that efforts should be made to preserve the languages in some form, but hoping that they won't eventually die is a bit optimistic :)

perhaps it is a sort of natural selection process :)

[andymooseman]

Thanks.

As you say, i suspect a little natural selection is inevitable. But, it's nice to hope that they can all be preserved, if only digitally :)

[ladybellerenee]

Check out the documentary 'The Linguists' - there are people out there making an effort to preserve these languages =)

[runskaper]

I think it would be better if there was less languages, but i dont like the idea of losing them, like you said a big database would be very good. :)

[andymooseman]

It would make it a lot easier for us if there were less languages. But, it would be a great pity to see them die out. Once extinct, they can never return :)

[EasytoonGuy]

I think it's rather a good thing that languages are dying. The more languages there are, the harder it is to communicate. I personally would have much against letting my motherlanguage die out -- if the rest of the population in my country did it as well, of course -- to switch into a more international language like English or Spanish. As we live in an age of world wide communication, knowing the same language as others is fundamental.

[EasytoonGuy]

*... I personally **wouldn't** have much against...

Sorry. :p

[papillonaquatique]

Language loss is a problem because when language is lost then so is the culture and the ability to read or pass on vital information.For all we know one of these cultures could have the cure to cancer and if they can not transfer their knowledge to others then it can be a big problem in the long run.Especially for recorded history.

[roottoom9]

boring...

[MISTAFIEDONEEIGHTSEV]

¥T

[nykhan786]

isn't the extinction of certain languages natural? I always thought the evolving of languages through use or lack thereof is what brings about new languages..?

[andymooseman]

I guess in some ways, the extinction of languages may well be natural. I just think it's a real pity they some do die out. Maybe it's a kind of natural selection? :)

[nancy4366]

Thank you for making a video that actually celebrates instead of insulting my intelligence! You've an inquisitive mind and very interesting thoughts.

[andymooseman]

And you for the very nice comment.

It's good to know that there are like minded people out there :)

[ghbarnes]

We should be helping minority language communities pass on their language to the next generation.

Charity begins at home - look at English attitudes to Welsh!

Saying we are bad at languages becomes a self-fulfilling myth - have a look at Routesintolanguages profile here on youtube

[andymooseman]

Thanks for your comments, it's obviously a topic you feel strongly about.

I agree with pretty much all you have said.

I understand what you say about the 'self-fulfilling myth', this happens in so many other places as well. If we all think it's going to happen, why bother trying to stop it? :)

[ghbarnes]

Basic English is used widely BUT second language English speakers is a more complex issue. Their numbers have apparently exceeded native speaker numbers recently.

However, it is likely English will be used as a lingua franca and the 300 or so 'big' languages WILL survive into the next century.

[MacSaxon]

Around 90. Not trying to be a smartass. :-)

[kaniji89]

por dios ... habla en el idioma que todo el mundo entiende el español .. que asi nada mas q parece que dices languages and english

[1technology123]

co to ??

[tsyrlb]

I certainly see your point of retaining culture through language, but I guess what it comes down to is unification worth more than culture? Is it better for humans to travel to different countries and be able to communicate freely without having to learn different languages? If you want, look into American Sign Language to see a really strong connection of culture/language.

[tsyrlb]

I do like your idea of having a modern day Rosetta Stone, and one thing to ponder when dealing with different languages was that God confounded the languages of the people who built the Tower of Babel as punishment for their sin...

[Schischmischrox]

Yeah Andy this is true. I am a native English speaker but I am learning others for exactly this reason! :-)

[andymooseman]

That sounds like a good idea. I'm afraid i've always wanted to learn another language, but have never got around to it. That's one of the problems of speaking English. Everybody else seems to speak it, so you don't feel the real need to learn anything else. We are very spoilt that way :)

[smilinchika]

i currently know 4 languages and i want so badly to learn about 4 or 5 more. i adore exploring new cultures and languages, i do however think that a loss of language doesnt mean we haveto lose the culture tied to it. there are ways people can communicate and learn from eachother to preserve the cultures of certain people. while i do hate to think of losing a peice of a culture by not maintaing the integrity of the language, i think itd be an even bigger loss to the entire culture as a whole ..

[andymooseman]

Learning a new language can be an avenue to learning about the culture etc. It's only natural that you will want to find out more about the country that the language originates from :)

[lindotimo]

Try to develop good translators between Chinese and English! It is sad to say good-bye to old languages, but what can we do? The children, nurseries. elementary schools, play an important role in preserving languages, also we have to cooperate with the state or municipal authorities to make then auspicious toward language preservation. Then language preservation may turn out to be a political issue.

[andymooseman]

The learning of a second language needs to be part of a schools curriculum. That will preserve some, but certainly not all languages.

We will probably end up with just a handful of major languages that are used worldwide :)

[CamEdwardo]

Although loosing the many languages of the world is sad and may sometimes provoke rage or anger towards the population of that of the more spoken. It is a natural process that has occured since the beginning humans on this earth. Languages that are not needed simply become unusable or unrealistic to use(obsolete). India speaks over 150 languages and the same is the case for many(cont. below)

[ghbarnes]

Language change is a natural process and languages have always faded away. However, we are witnessing what is called language loss on an unprecedented scale.

[CamEdwardo]

countries in Africa such as Ethiopia. These are maintained by the limitations in transportation, tribal/familial use and the lacked influence of the internet(at least in most parts of India and Africa). Even Parts of the Bible where even (cont. below)

[CamEdwardo]

written in a language that is not spoken today ,these parts being in Aramaic a now dead and unused language.

Although there is nothing that can be done to keep these languages spoken within the world they can can be perserved in methods outlined by "andymoosemanand" as they currently are being used. The remnants of these languages can ber used for future study and application in the exploration of culture and the evolution and diversity of language

[OdysseyArts]

Language is the gateway to a culture; especially to the mind set, philosophy, and perspective of that culture and people. When we lose languages to globalization, we also lose the foundation of traditions, histories, entire worlds. We are, in fact, losing culture itself. Then, of course, soon there will be nothing left but the corporate void.

[andymooseman]

As you suggest. It's not just the language we lose, but probably all the traditions, history & different cultures that go with it.

Thanks for your comments :)

[w3bg1rl]

Nice video!Here in the Netherlands most of us will learn at least 2 languages but i cant remember the last time i spoke German..So most languages we dont even have to use.Maybe in the future we will.

[andymooseman]

Some languages are always spoken more than others. German is sometimes learnt here in the UK as well, but apart from in Germany, it doesn't get spoken very much, does it? :)

[CamEdwardo]

I speak some German, I live here in Washingon State and have only come across a few that know German that live here and arn't either an exchange student or traveling. German is one of the languages expected to also die out in the future. This due to the fact most Germans can speak English and are taught for many years in their schools and there are no other majority speaking countries other than Switzerland and Austria.

[hatchen]

That is a very wide sweeping statement to say. Have a think for a moment about what you said. Just because a lot of germans speak good english doesn't mean that they are going to start speaking it at home or that it is going to die out. It's is a bit part of there identity, anzone would fight for that. Anyway, there are more people who can speak german(of course depends from which aspect you look at it from) than french....and then there is dutch too. Come on mate

[CamEdwardo]

I was only stating what linguists have perdicted. Yes, the it will be spoken within the home and occasionally out but as english becomes more prevalent it will rapidly decline and cease to be a "common" language. This obviously won't happen in anything like 10-15 yrs as German is the 2nd most used language on the internet as well as possesing most of the world's original research/published works on Chemistry a majority of which are being used in their original langauge,German.(mst untranslated)

[hatchen]

I still don't agree with your statement! It will always be spoken in some form or another on a wide scale.This is beacusethe people which go to Germany to live have to learn German! You can centainy get around in English, but it is limited mostly limited to conversations about the weather and tell you the translation for Cheese but connot carry a meaningful conversation.

[hatchen]

Second part. Think about it, when you go overseas and are blow away buy someones English, what was the topic! These statements are based on the fact that I am living in Germany! And the predictions are that they are coming up with are most likely mathamatical, and don't take into account social movements like that in France. Have you ever wondered why people in France only talk French to foreners, there is a good reason if you think about it!

[CamEdwardo]

Yes, German will not "completely" die out but to an extent it will in that it will become like Sanskrit has in India being only spoken fluently by around 49,000. Sanskrit is a liturgical or sacred language of Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism,.It is spoken by very few people and used mostly in religous practice. Sanskrit is the language of the Vedas and other sacred texts of Hinduism as well as some in

[CamEdwardo]

SECOND PART:>>>Buddhism and Jainism. There is too much History and Literature for it too completely die as holds true with German and the vast amounts of written record and history it also contains.

Hatchen, the immense Roman Empire would have felt as exactly as you do; that their language would never "die". But tell me now, how many speak original Latin outside of religion or academia today?

[hatchen]

Well latin is spoken it is just that it has evolved into languages like French and Spanish( the romance languages- look a bit closer, ROMance, coming from rome)....

[hatchen]

Also, about 40 -50 percent of English comes from Latin, so by the way you are talking you could say that we are speaking a form of latin too, a modern variety. The other part concerning Languages like French and German becoming spripts and not being spoken day to day. Well that will happen to every language because all languages change over time. However, in the forseeable future, there is not way that any of the main European languages will simply stop being spoken because of English

[ohyeahhm]

losing ways to express oneself. when words are hijacked by this or that group .. isn't someone More interesting when they speak another language? and some expressions or situations or feelings are best expressed in another language for those that only know one ... such a pity

[andymooseman]

Thanks for the comment & i agree with you.

Although i don't speak another language myself & i know i should, i still find it interesting to hear other languages spoken.

The world would be a lesser place without those other languages & the cultures that go with them :)

[Faithsplay27]

Andy you have touched on a subject that is very contemporary and should be discussed in schools in all lanquage classes. A dying lanquage a dying out tribe a dying out of whole cultures a dying out of our world.

[andymooseman]

I totally agree with you, it should be discussed more. I also think that learning a 2nd language should be compulsory. Here in the UK, pupils can opt out of learning a 2nd language, which is a great shame.

Learning that 2nd language encourages you to learn a bit about the culture etc of that country as well :)

[rchan0]

I'm ethnically Chinese, my parents speak a dialect of Chinese called Hakka, and this dialect is considered to be 'dying out'. I know how to speak it a little bit. Often I find there are some words that I understand in Hakka but there isn't really a translation for it in English, and I think that is because the language is tied in with the "culture" and the "way of life" of where the language originates. So a loss of the language I would think means a loss of the culture too.

[andymooseman]

I've often been told that some words in other languages just don't translate to English.

I must admit i've never heard of Hakka before.

I agree with you that language & culture are often linked :)

[divalolo]

There are lots of opportunities to keep the language alive, and the successful model here can be copied elsewhere.

We don't all have to be the same. We can celebrate our diversity. Thanks Andy!

[andymooseman]

I think Welsh is an excellent example of how a language can survive. If i remember rightly, it was danger of dying out, but through great effort it's now on the rise again. That can only be a good thing.

It also helps to promote a sense of national identity as well :)

[divalolo]

Some languages never used to have a written context and this makes it harder for them to survive. In Wales now all signs are bi-lingual, all govt. documents & info is bi-lingual. Welsh is a component of the school curriculum and there are quite a number of Welsh medium schools, i.e. where all subjects are taught in the Welsh language. We have a Welsh television station complete with soaps!

[1Edlin]

tings must change in this world in order to progress, to survive. for instance, in the US some people have made a combination of spanish and english as a product of the learning process of a new language. they use it simultaneously to make up for the words that they don't know in english; trucka for truck, coolisimo for very cool, and it gets more complicated...Americans are afraid of it becoming a new language, but I guess it is too late. They've already coined a name, "spanglish".

[andymooseman]

I've heard about the spread of "Spanglish".

I know that Spanish is being increasingly spoken in the USA, due to immigration etc.

I think this just shows how languages evolve over time & through necessity :)

[FallenAngelBG]

I speak Bulgarian and I learn Latin. It's true that the languages are gone. I know so many things about Latin grammar but I have never spoken a word in Latin...

[andymooseman]

I think Latin tends to be only spoken in Church nowadays.

They used to teach Latin in private schools here in the UK, but i'm not sure if they do very much now :)

[josette54]

I am struggling here in Germany to learn German and to live in this culture, would be easier if all people spoke English...but then again where would the challenge for me be then?...hugs

[andymooseman]

At least you're trying to learn the German language. Best of luck with it :)

[danbblau]

The sooner languages other than English die out the better.

If everyone speaks English a huge amount of $ will be saved.

No translators, no translation, everyone will be able to read every book regardless of where it is published.

[luckydogvegas]

Are you serious?

[andymooseman]

I was thinking exactly the same thing!! :)

[piginablanket1]

well there is a good side to this no need for translators but do see your point

[andymooseman]

There are good & bad sides to most arguments :)

[whippedcreamshampoo]

It's good that you have gotten interested in the diversity of languages. There is much for you to learn, and hopefully you will. Beginning with your own island.

Cornish died out a couple centuries ago. Breton is spoken in Brittany on the northwest shoulder of France (not England), but it is related to Welsh, not French. The other gaelic language was Manx, from the Isle of Man, supposed to have died out in the 20th century.

[divalolo]

I think there are people who still speak Manx and there is a movement to revive it, much like Welsh. In my Welsh lessons there have been observers from Isle of Man (for Manx) and also Patagonia (where Welsh is spoken).

[whippedcreamshampoo]

According to Wikipedia there is a deliberate revival of Manx, since the death of the last "native speaker" in 1974.

[andymooseman]

A lot of Welsh people moved to Patagonia some time ago & their descendents still live there :)

[andymooseman]

Thanks for correcting me on a couple of things. I don't pretend to be an expert on this subject, just interested in it :)

[AgapeProductions]

Diverse languages also allows diversification of thought. Take for example in greek, they have 5 words for love and in english we have 1. Some words don't even translate because a particular culture may be exposed to an idea or event completely foreign to the rest of the world. Overall, nice video.

[andymooseman]

Good point. An ex girlfriend of mine used to read French novels in the native French, because she felt that they didn't always translate into English very well. She felt that something was lost in the translation :)

[taxiarchis6680]

are u sure about that?can you tell me this 5 words?

[abelton2007]

if you had of just sat in front of the camera with the words waffling idot on your fore head and kept your mouth shut it would have had the same message but a lot less annoying for the viewers. your head is full of banging doors mate. fucking saw dust head

[1Edlin]

maybe if you read more books and became more in touch with the reality that language is an important part of a persons survival everywhere not just a "waffling idiot" talking about something other than the stupid things that, I suppose, you're used to hear. get an education "saw dust head"!

[1Edlin]

that comment was for abelton2007....sorry, my mistake!

[andymooseman]

Don't worry i realised that.

Thanks for sticking up for me :)

[747dog]

TOWER of BABEL...the GODS...confused man by different languages...so they couldnt finish the tower...uh..the Bible...

[mrjugger]

boring

[747dog]

Tower of BABEL....

[andymooseman]

I think the tower is starting to crumble a bit & is in danger of collapse :)

[bulliztik]

we have segregation through lack of understanding. if we could communicate easily with people of all nations, maybe there would be less division. words are a human creation, therefore it would be of no loss other than to those who speak the unpopular languages (whom are also the people most heavily affected by this barrier). 1 common tounge is imperative

[andymooseman]

That's an interesting & very valid viewpoint. There are several barriers to mutual understanding & language is just one of them.

Thanks for the comment :)

[ajdpadbury]

Interesting topic, but it is not just the spoken word, also the written word if you look at old maps! Probably the old (or olde!) dialect dyed out largely with interbreeding as clan/families/factions crossed over, died out etc. could be, but I agree, a shame. Lisa Simpson was speaking Cornish in one episode I remember!:)

[andymooseman]

Language is constantly evolving & will always do so. I read a quote that said that "a language that doesn't change, is a dead language". Interesting thought.

I think things started to change when people became more mobile & started moving around more. Centuries ago people hardly ever went more than a few miles from their homes, whereas nowadays... :)

[silverscreamgrl]

I'm hijacking another of your comments! Yep, language has to constantly evolve. Just think, if it stopped, what about all these new things like computer? The Hawaiian word for it is "lolo uila" or "crazy lightning" or eyeglasses, .. dang I forgot the word...maka something. You'd have to continue to evolve a language else you'd never be able to carry on a convo. Now to go find my comment hahaha

[andymooseman]

Thanks Beth. It looks as though i've picked on a favourite topic of yours :)

[OhCurt]

English really is the bully in this tale, isn't it?

And you're right about us being bad about learning others. I tried with Spanish, passed the intro class with an A, and then proceeded to forget everything thanks to lack of use.

This is the constant struggle with studying history - languages/information dies out and we're always dealing with an incomplete picture, thereby never having a 100% understanding of what really went down.

[andymooseman]

You're right Curt, the English speakers are the bully boys. It probably comes down to the influence of the old British Empire.

We always expect others to speak our language, but we can't be bothered to learn anybody else's ourselves :)

[Oddsweb]

Hi Andy, There are so many languages and cultures lost and losing themselves in the mash of English/American influences. It is so so sad that so many unique languages and cultures are being lost, there must be more that we can do to help restore them and keep them :~D (I may have my comments back but I have no NOSE!)

[andymooseman]

Good to see back commenting again.

I just looked on Wikipedia & English is the official language of 52 countries, well ahead of the next, which is French. I guess that tells us quite a lot :)

[Oddsweb]

It certainly does, So German is now less spoken too.. that is a shock :~D

[silverscreamgrl]

Great vid. I read once that (insert number) languages die a day. I found that incredible. Hawaiian was almost lost to us. The missionaries came and many things were stopped, hula and the language being two. Thankfully about 20 years ago there was a movement to reintroduce the language. There are now schools that speak nothing but Hawaiian, which is very neat. An article I read once said about 90% of languages will be gone in the next 75-100 years. Pity is right.

[andymooseman]

I suppose you were lucky that the Hawaiian language was reintroduced whilst it was still known. So many die out because they're just not used anymore.

I think those missionaries have a lot to answer for :)

[silverscreamgrl]

LOL! They sure do. It was the 'rebel' Hawaiians that we can thank though. While the queen wanted us to learn English and be proper with our dress (we even fashioned our flag after the Union Jack!), most Hawaiians refused to conform.

[andymooseman]

I think we can thank the 'rebels' for saving a lot of ancient languages. They were just trying to preserve their old way of life i suppose :)

[TamHickey67]

As you no doubt know Andy, Gaelic culture and tradition were outlawed in the 17th century by the English lords. It stayed alive though, despite all attempts to kill the language and heritage off. Sadly, very few Gaelic speakers remain nowadays as many of the youngsters have left the islands to gain work or go to university. I hope the diversity of these great islands is allowed to flourish, for the more we understand about ourselves, the more we can forge ahead together.

[silverscreamgrl]

TamHickey67: Pardon for butting in. I read your comment as I was listening to Andy. Interesting info. When I visited Ireland, our tour guide was fluent in Gaelic and she met up with pals in pubs while we were touring and was chatting away. I found it very refreshing ... though I bet she was talking about us hahaha just kidding ;)

[Oddsweb]

Hi Silverscreamgrl... sorry for buttin in on your buttin in, however, I think the Irish Gaelic is different in some ways than the Scotish Gaelic, however the Irish Gaelic was outlawed and continued in a more subversive manner. It is very refreshing, the Irish language has been kept alive by having Gailtacht (spelt wrong probbably) areas where only those with fluent Irish can live, work or school there. :~D (I may have my comments back but I have no NOSE)

[andymooseman]

Samantha: That's something else i've learned today :)

[silverscreamgrl]

Oddsweb: Thanks for that clarification. I enjoyed listening even though I didn't understand a lick of it :)

[Oddsweb]

it is a joy to listen to, LOL, as long as your not standing infront of them when they say some vowels :~D (I miss my nose)

[andymooseman]

Beth: I think Irish Gaelic is increasingly spoken in Ireland nowadays, which can only be a good thing, imho :)

[silverscreamgrl]

I agree. Whenever any language that is being lost can find a resurgence, that's a good thing!

[andymooseman]

I think that sort of thing happened right throughout the world in the past. Invaders would try to suppress the native languages. It emphasised the fact that the country had been conquered :)

[DILLIGAF333]

It's this global economy that's developed. Much of Europe and Asia have learned English to do business with the rest of the world, and sometimes you have to speak Spanish in many places here in the United States. I'm originally from California where I used to drive a delivery truck, so I also speak Spanish.

[andymooseman]

I think you're right with what you say.

That's the reason i specifically mentioned Spanish, because i know it's becoming increasing popular in the USA :)

[Ravensinger]

It absolutely is a shame. You know at one time, in Papua New Guinea, there were something like 200 dialects totally unrelated to one another and so they came up with Pidgeon English so that all of that various people groups could communicate. However, their tribal languages still lived. Fascinating stuff!

[andymooseman]

I didn't know that about Pidgin English, i've often wondered where that came from.

Thanks for teaching me something new today :)

[americannamor]

Very interesting topic! I have more to say but right now I'm late for work. :(

[andymooseman]

I hope i didn't make you too late!! :)

[BBX118]

Language's are what define countries, every country has it's own language - even the United States and Canada have their own native tounges. I think it's great that we can have a "working language" (English), but everyone should know their own language, whether they be Welsh, Dutch, Scottish or whatever. I'm wanting to learn Irish actually, it's very similar to Scottish .. but it's bloody hard lol.

[andymooseman]

I agree with you that it would be great if we were all bi-lingual. But most of us, me included, are too lazy to bother.

A lot of languages appear quite similar. I imagine that Scottish/Irish have evolved from the same language years ago. The same with English/German & Dutch being fairly similar as well. Just a theory, i could be wrong :)

[willyIV]

Yiddish is one language that is being actively preserved. As we evolve, it is only natural for language to go -- I heard a story a year or so ago about preserving language by micro engraving on tiny gold tablets (for archive quality) -- the first document? the Holy Bible! In English, of course!

[andymooseman]

I have a feeling Yiddish will never be allowed to disappear.

I can just imagine some person in years to come desperately trying to decipher a future Rosetta Stone!! :)

[whippedcreamshampoo]

Please don't confuse Yiddish with Hebrew. They are not the same language. Hebrew is preserved in Jewish prayers and the Torah (old testament). Yiddish was mostly medieval German written in the Hebrew alphabet, and it is very nearly extinct.

[NaturalTwentyFilms]

Success is a narrow path and as humans become more and more globally successful as a race, the more and more they must become the same, not only in language but in cuture. It's a shame but I am sure there are people who keep languages alive in the same way people keep fading musical genres alive.

Cheers!

[andymooseman]

I hope there are people trying to keep those languages alive as well.

There seems to have been a surge in popularity of so called 'World Music' in recent years. Hopefully this will help preserve all those old musical genres as well :)

[stukeck]

The problem goes way beyond this... I just watched a video where the producer felt we should cast off all values etc in the Bible, Koran, etc, because, and this is the important part, modern man is far more intellectually superior... Think of the knowledge lost with the burning of the library in Alexandria... How did we get the ridiculous idea that modern man is mentally superior to ancient man? seesh

mutered Pappy

[andymooseman]

Without that ancient wisdom, we wouldn't be where we are now.

How many times have we seen, or been told, that the 'old ways' were/are the best? :)

[stukeck]

Well not necessarily the best but "of no value"? NO WAY eh

he he he

Thanks for the topic Andy this has long bean a PAppY Peave

[Pippilly]

The 1st video I ever faved was Matt harding. I thought how fabulous something so simple could be so amazing, and I wanted to be apart of YT and lo and behold I finally did a video lol. I wrote to Matt and invited him to dance. I got an email from him that he was going to be in Vancouver, however sadly I couldn't make it on the last minute. I am still so bummed out about it. That video will be out in June. I'm sure it will be great, and I'll just have to pretend I'm in it lol!!!!

[andymooseman]

I think the dancing video is brilliant. As you say, it's such an easy but effective idea & so well done as well. I'm certainly very envious of his travelling. If only....

What a pity you weren't able to do the filming, that would have been very cool :)

[Pippilly]

There are people preserving the languages, however some are getting lost as we technologically advance. It is sad. Even in Israel, Hebrew is not the original language, it's Aramaic I believe. Although preserved, just not spoken anymore, sometimes used in movies, very rare though.

[andymooseman]

I suppose, ironically, we have the technology to help us preserve these dying languages now. But, it's possibly, technology that is helping destroy the languages in the first place :)

[Pippilly]

yes, very ironic indeed!

[whippedcreamshampoo]

Hebrew was the language of Israel before Aramaic. Aramaic had replaced Hebrew for daily use at the time of Jesus, but Hebrew was preserved as the language of prayer.

When Israel was re-established in the 20th century, Hebrew was revived as the official language.

Aramaic has not survived in Israel, there are rare traces of it in Iraq.

[andymooseman]

Thanks. You sure know a lot about this subject :)

[flydarling]

I do think it's a real shame that they will be lost. The Welsh put in a lot of effort recently though and that's paid off as the language is stronger again. Then again we have new languages like Klingon! Cheers, Lesley

[andymooseman]

I think the Welsh realised that the language was in danger of being lost & did something about it. Well done to them i say.

Not so sure about Klingon though... :)

[flydarling]

You can take a degree in Klingon and that language has come about because of a tv series. There are plenty of people who have built on languages from the Lord of the Rings too. So hopefully there are similar people who will preserve real languages. L

[andymooseman]

I also hope that there are people out there helping to preserve languages. But it seems a bit crazy that we seem more interested in a made up 'language' from a tv show, that in some of the real languages that are being lost :)

[BrynWebb18]

I suppose it's a shame to lose 1000s fo years of progress in language but things will be alot easier if we all spoke the same, although I think that will take alot of culture away from other countries.

[andymooseman]

That's part of the problem. It's easier to speak one language, but we lose so much else in the process :)

[popparoc46]

Quebec has done an excellent job in preserving their quebecois French. It has been quite controversial with their "language police" trolling English areas, especially English bookstores in Montreal. They are not permitted to display any English signs - externally or internally. The Justice system is all French. Business is conducted in French. It is frustrating sometimes, but they have fought very well against the natural erosion of English! - roc

[andymooseman]

LOL at "The language police", is it really that bad?

I know they've done a lot to try & preserve French in that part of Canada & why not?

I think it would do us all good to learn a second language. Although i'm guilty of not having done so!! :)

[susanmarie70]

Slightly off topic.. But i am from UK, and came to Sweden 4 years ago. Because im English its not been a necessity for me to learn Swedish. I am now though and enjoying every minute of it. So i think that different languages should be kept!

In a class of 25, only 5 of us can speak English, 2 of them fluently. Because the class is so mixed, turkish, arabic, chinese, english, we are forced to speak the language we are learning or else we would not be able to converse with each other :-)

[andymooseman]

I know the Swedes usually speak excellent English, they tend to put us to shame!!

Are there many language variations in Sweden?

I was wondering if the Laplander's had their own language :)

[whippedcreamshampoo]

Yes, the Lapps have their own language, which is related to Finnish, Estonian, and distantly to Hungarian and Turkish.

[andymooseman]

Thanks for the info :)

[TheStallion86]

Your forgetting the newest language, The Chav Lingo! Init blood, or something like that lol. another cool vid andy, if i am half as cool as u in 10 years il b a happy man! ya gets me tho blood lol

[andymooseman]

Thanks for the compliment, i appreciate it.

The problem is that the English language is evolving all the time & people are always inventing new words. I must admit i get lost with it all sometimes!! :)

[kenrg]

Dying languages is an interesting topic. There are wonderful gains made by bringing people closer together with greater and broader communication, but lost languages is the price we pay for that progress.

[andymooseman]

I think that's the problem. The closer we get, the more alike we become & that includes speaking the same languages :)