Languages go extinct or die when their speakers stop passing them to younger generations, often due to colonization, cultural assimilation, or globalization. When a language dies, an entire worldview and system of identity disappear with it—along with traditions, humor, and ways of thinking that cannot be translated. Reading about endangered languages has made me realize how deeply language and culture are intertwined.
Linguists can help by recording native speakers, compiling dictionaries, and creating educational resources that encourage revitalization. They can also support communities in reclaiming pride in their heritage language. Some so-called “dead” languages have been revived—Hebrew is a famous example, brought back as a living language in the 20th century through education and national policy.
Today, linguists and anthropologists are racing to document linguistic diversity through projects like the Endangered Languages Documentation Programme (ELDP) and UNESCO’s Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger. These efforts not only preserve data but also affirm the cultural dignity of speaker communities. Understanding this motivates me to value the living nature of Korean—and to see language learning as an act of cultural preservation.
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