105 Learning Journal #7

[David Lee]

When a language dies, cultural identities and the diversity of the world's linguistics diminishes as well. The article mentions that English, Spanish, and Mandarin are the top languages in the world. One can initially guess why those three languages are the top three: because of the large communities that speak English, Spanish, and Mandarin. Although the most obvious secret to success is the large mass of speakers, the article challenges this belief by disclosing that Siletz Dee-ni (which has about five speakers left in the entire world) was once the dominant language in the west. English, Spanish, and Mandarin don't seem like they are going extinct any time soon, but it is quite possible that one day those languages will vanish as well. Kirk Johnson reveals that English speakers tried to wipe out the Siletz culture and language by forcing children to speak English and banning their native language. I am pretty familiar with this because the Siletz tribes were settled around Canada's west coast, where I am from. I learned about the Siletz and other tribes who were forced to give up their native culture and language, and I remember that we also learned about how those Siletz children grew up. The majority of those children who were forced to live a western life and speak English committed suicide, failing to live past their late 20s or 30s, if I remember correctly. When a language dies, the culture and lifestyle disappears with it, as seen with the Siletz people. Languages around the world consistently evolve, forever shifting the diversity of the world's linguistics.