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From: selvakum@sun14.vlsi.uwaterloo.ca (C. R. Selvakumar)
Subject: Re: Language Extinction
Message-ID: <D4Gtw9.6q9@sun3.vlsi.uwaterloo.ca>
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References: <BO04E1Y.jwmurphy700@delphi.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 1995 18:26:30 GMT
Lines: 34

In article <BO04E1Y.jwmurphy700@delphi.com>,  <jwmurphy700@delphi.com> wrote:
>Extinction of the World's Languages
> 
>According to a recent newspaper article I read of the world's
>estimated 6,000 languages, up to half of them will probably
>become extinct during the next century.  Should something be
>done to prevent this?  If so, what?
>Is anything being done now?

        This would be a great tragedy. When we see millions of dollars
        being spent to preserve living species ( flora and fauna ) and people
        pay millions of dollars to buy art works, should not preserving 
        every living language also be a high priority? 
        I believe the intrinsically valuable
        unique human spirit is in great measure in their langauges.  
        Language is not just a mere mode of communication of mundane 
        things. 

        I think UN should allocate funds for such activities. Even 
        Arts and Science Academies should allocate a small percentage of
        their funds such preservation. With modern technology, we can
        quite 'easily' preserve these languages. A language can be quite
        easily learnt in a short span of time to be able to achieve
        mundane communication, but people forsake their mothertongue
        ( or parentstongue or fathertongue as the case may be :) )
        for various other reasons ( for ex economic incentive driven migration)

        My opinions anyways.
         
> 
>Joe Murphy
               Selva


