Each language that disappears takes with it an entire world: stories, worldviews, unique knowledge about nature, the body, memory. In The Future of Endangered Languages, Léwis Verdun invites us to reconsider the role of language in a globalized world—and to understand why language protection is more than a cultural issue. It is a political, ecological, and human emergency.

This powerful 5-minute read presents a clear, engaging inquiry into the often-invisible phenomenon of language extinction. Inspired by this book, this article explores a closely related and crucial issue: the relationship between linguistic diversity and the sustainability of our societies.

The silent loss: an invisible symptom of globalization

Every week, another language disappears. According to UNESCO, nearly 40% of the world’s currently spoken languages are endangered. Yet this phenomenon remains largely invisible to the public. Why? Because the loss of a language isn’t dramatic or immediate—it unfolds silently, generation after generation, as youth stop speaking the language of their elders.

Globalization, standardized media and education, and the dominance of economic languages like English or Mandarin have accelerated this trend. In many countries, speaking a minority language is still seen as a barrier to social or professional integration.

But when a language disappears, it’s not just a tool of communication that vanishes. It’s a living library of knowledge, narratives, and ancestral practices—words to name medicinal plants, survival techniques in extreme climates, expressions that dominant languages can’t even translate.

Languages and biodiversity: two faces of the same richness

What many don’t realize is that the map of endangered languages often overlaps with that of endangered ecosystems. From the Amazon to the Himalayas, local languages carry valuable knowledge about biodiversity, land stewardship, and sustainable living. When a language dies, so does a unique way of seeing, describing, and interacting with the world.

Studies have shown that territories with high linguistic diversity also tend to be biodiversity hotspots. This is no coincidence. It proves that linguistic diversity is not just cultural heritage—it is an essential pillar of resilience.

Protecting languages means preserving alternative worldviews, ways of inhabiting the Earth, of naming what others no longer see. It offers humanity a broader palette of solutions to face today’s and tomorrow’s crises.

Can endangered languages be saved? Yes—here’s how

Despite the alarming outlook, there is hope. All over the world, communities are reviving their languages, sometimes with the help of linguists, sometimes through grassroots mobilization.

In Wales, the Welsh language has experienced a revival thanks to bold education and media policies. In New Zealand, Māori communities established language-immersion schools (kōhanga reo) with great success. In Papua New Guinea, entire villages work with researchers to document languages that have never been written before.

These examples show that technology can also be a powerful ally: online dictionaries, mobile apps, social media in indigenous languages, voice recognition tools… Modern platforms can breathe new life into ancient tongues.

But beyond tools, it’s the collective narrative that must shift: we must restore value to marginalized voices and recognize that speaking a minority language is not a limitation, but a wealth.

How can we act to protect linguistic diversity?

Preserving endangered languages isn’t just a task for governments and linguists. Everyone can contribute, in simple yet meaningful ways.

For individuals:

  • Learn about the local languages of your region—even if no longer widely spoken

  • Attend multilingual cultural events

  • Support artists and creators from minority linguistic backgrounds

For educators and families:

  • Introduce linguistic diversity in classrooms

  • Value multilingualism from early childhood

  • Encourage intergenerational transmission

For institutions and companies:

  • Translate content into local or minority languages

  • Hire native speakers to reflect internal diversity

  • Sponsor or partner with linguistic preservation projects

For developers and innovators:

  • Build digital tools for under-resourced languages

  • Offer free access to linguistic resources

  • Incorporate multilingual voice recognition into digital products

Each word preserved, each story retold, each poem published in a fragile language is a step toward resistance. A memory recovered. A future made possible.

Behind every endangered language is a people, a worldview, forgotten knowledge. In The Future of Endangered Languages, Léwis Verdun delivers a powerful, insightful investigation into this often-overlooked issue. In just five minutes, this book opens your eyes to a silent but essential struggle.

Ready to take part in the linguistic renewal and rethink our cultural future? This mini-essay is your invitation to act, think, and dream in plural.

Discover The Future of Endangered Languages now on FIVE MINUTES!