Does the number of speakers of a language determine its fate?
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Andoni Barreña
Abstract
Given the forthcoming near certain massive disappearance of languages during the twenty-first century, scholars have tried to identify the causes that are leading this process. Among those given, the number of speakers has been considered one of the most important predictors for the future of a language, and different “safety thresholds” have been proposed. However, examination of several sociolinguistic aspects in a fairly large sample of languages worldwide suggests that there is no direct relationship between the number of speakers and the probabilities of survival of a language. In this article, we will show that the number of speakers cannot be considered the only, not even the most important criterion, when trying to anticipate language survival or death. Instead, natural transmission and intergenerational use are shown to be better predictors. We will use data on more than 525 languages, collected by the Amarauna Languages group of the UNESCO Center in the Basque Country, with the purpose of writing a report on the current sociolinguistic situation of the world languages (Martí et al. 2005).
© Walter de Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- Introduction
- History of foreign language education in Thailand until World War II
- Lexical innovation and “the genius of the Thai language”
- Language of the news media in Thailand
- Discussing assimilation and language shift among the Chinese in Thailand
- Principles of Thai place-name formation: a reflection of natural and cultural heritage
- Endangered languages of Thailand
- Thai political slang: formation and attitudes towards usage
- Animate classifiers in Tai languages
- Does the number of speakers of a language determine its fate?
Articles in the same Issue
- Introduction
- History of foreign language education in Thailand until World War II
- Lexical innovation and “the genius of the Thai language”
- Language of the news media in Thailand
- Discussing assimilation and language shift among the Chinese in Thailand
- Principles of Thai place-name formation: a reflection of natural and cultural heritage
- Endangered languages of Thailand
- Thai political slang: formation and attitudes towards usage
- Animate classifiers in Tai languages
- Does the number of speakers of a language determine its fate?
