文章大意:本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讲的是全世界目前在使用的有记载的语言有7000种,其中一半的语言可能濒临消失。据预测,到本世纪末,1500种已知的语言可能会不再被使用。
There are 7,000 documented languages currently spoken across the world, but half of them could be endangered. It is predicted that 1,500 known languages may no longer be spoken by the end of this century.
Researchers analyzed thousands of languages to identify factors that put endangered ones at risk. The findings highlight a link between higher levels of schooling and language loss, as regionally dominant languages taught in class often overshadow indigenous (土著的) tongues. Additionally, the density of roads in an area is also to blame. “We found that the more roads there are, connecting countries to cities, and villages to towns, the higher the risk of languages being endangered. It’s as if roads are helping dominant languages ‘steam roll’ over other smaller languages,” said Professor Lindell Bromham, co–author of the study.
The study, published in Nature, Ecology and Evolution, estimates one language is currently lost within every three–month period. But levels of language loss could actually triple in the next 40 years, with at least one language per month disappearing unless measures are taken.
“When a language is lost, we lose so much of our human cultural diversity,” said Professor Bromham.“Luckily, many of the languages predicted to be lost this century still have fluent speakers, so there is still the chance to invest in supporting communities to restore indigenous languages.”
There are many Internet sites and apps to help new speakers learn languages like Spanish, English and Chinese, but these now extend to specialist apps designed to teach endangered languages or help preserve them. Ma! Iwaidja, for example, is an app that enables those working with speakers of the Iwaidja indigenous Australian language to record words, phrases and translations. Another initiative is the Rosetta Project, a global cooperation of language specialists and native speakers working to build an open–access digital library of human languages.
The UNESCO International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL 2022–2032), which begins this year, also aims to engage the global community with the critical issue of language loss.
12. What is putting indigenous languages at risk of being endangered?
A.Their history. | B.The way they are taught. |
C.Exposure to the wider world. | D.The influence of climate. |
13. What do we know about language loss according to the study?
A.It is hard to predict. | B.It will lead to human death. |
C.It is getting worse. | D.It is out of our control. |
14. In Bromham’s opinion, which field is affected most by languages?
A.Economy. | B.Technology. | C.Globalization. | D.Cultural diversity. |
15. How does the author introduce the ways to restore indigenous languages?
A.By listing figures. | B.By making definitions. |
C.By making comparisons. | D.By giving examples. |