[QUOTE][B](CNN)[/B] -- Will you be any worse off the moment humans cease to speak in Aragonese? How about Navajo, or Ojibwa? Or Koro, a language only just discovered in a tiny corner of northeast India?No, you probably wouldn't, not in that moment. But humanity would be. Science, art and culture would be. If, as the phrase goes, another language equals another soul, then some 3,054 souls -- 50% of the world's total languages -- are set to die out by 2100.[URL="http://mashable.com/2012/04/05/amazon-espanol-spanish/"]Mashable.com: Kindle Espanol: Amazon launches Spanish-language ebook store[/URL]If there is hope, it lies in the world's centers of information -- such as Google. The search giant's philanthropic arm, Google.org, has launched [URL="http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/"]the Endangered Language project[/URL], a website devoted to preserving those ancient tongues that are now only spoken by a few thousand of us.[URL="http://mashable.com/2012/06/19/technology-humanitarian-response/"]Mashable.com: How technology is speeding up humanitarian response[/URL]The site, launched early Thursday, features videos and an interactive map. The curious can click on any one of the dots that hang over each country (including a suprising number in the U.S.), each representing a whole language.You can hear the heartbreaking, beautiful sound of Koro being sung, or read 18th-century manuscripts written in a nearly-dead Native American tongue."Documenting the 3,000+ languages that are on the verge of extinction is an important step in preserving cultural diversity," write project managers Clara Rivera Rodriguez and Jason Rissman.[URL="http://mashable.com/2012/06/03/world-at-work-10/"]Mashable.com: 5 startups infusing social good with innovation[/URL]The idea is to unite a lot of smaller preservation efforts under the Google.org banner."By bridging independent efforts from around the world we hope to make an important advancement in confronting language endangerment," said Rodriguez and Rissman. "We hope you'll join us."[URL="http://mashable.com/2012/06/21/google-org-fights-to-save-3054-languages/"]Check out the project's video on Mashable.com.[/URL][/QUOTE]
Source: [URL]http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/21/tech/web/google-fights-save-language-mashable/index.html[/URL]
While it's better for the world to be united under 1 or a few common languages, this feature sounds really cool.
[QUOTE=Sam xD;36457206]While it's better for the world to be united under 1 or a few common languages, this feature sounds really cool.[/QUOTE]
what? that's incredibly stupid. diversity is a good thing killing it is a bad thing
Although this idea sounds good, it's inevitable that languages die out.
Nobody speaks latin anymore as a first language.
[QUOTE=God of Ashes;36457442]what? that's incredibly stupid. diversity is a good thing killing it is a bad thing[/QUOTE]
People different than us should be cast out, shamed and killed!
[QUOTE=God of Ashes;36457442]what? that's incredibly stupid. diversity is a good thing killing it is a bad thing[/QUOTE]
...except that racial / language diversity is whats causing a massive amount of grief and hate...
we need to limit diversity in the sense that we have most people keep their native language but also learn a mainstream language, and have everyone understand different cultures and races. Otherwise, people who can't understand X people will hate on them because of that.
and the reason these languages are dying out is because they're becoming more useless. The more people speak the less languages the better. I'm not saying actively eliminate languages or people, you should preserve them in text, but if they're dying out, let it be.
[QUOTE=Sam xD;36457206]While it's better for the world to be united under 1 or a few common languages, this feature sounds really cool.[/QUOTE]Having the world speak a common language does not mean to achieve that other languages need to go extinct. Most European nations are bilingual or multilingual, for example; their own language and a larger language like their neighbour's or something more widespread like English.
[QUOTE=J!NX;36457464]...except that racial / language diversity is whats causing a massive amount of grief and hate...
we need to limit diversity in the sense that we have most people keep their native language but also learn a mainstream language, and have everyone understand different cultures and races. Otherwise, people who can't understand X people will hate on them because of that.
and the reason these languages are dying out is because they're becoming more useless. The more people speak the less languages the better. I'm not saying actively eliminate languages or people, you should preserve them in text, but if they're dying out, let it be.[/QUOTE]
yeah lets murder all black people too that way there won't be any black people to hate
[editline]23rd June 2012[/editline]
I mean how can you not see the benefits of cultural diversity, are you that deprived of the outside world? jesus christ
[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/kickapoonoo.png/][IMG]http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/3295/kickapoonoo.png[/IMG][/URL]
what.
( its in the USA :wtc: )
[QUOTE=parket;36457625]yeah lets murder all black people too that way there won't be any black people to hate
[editline]23rd June 2012[/editline]
I mean how can you not see the benefits of cultural diversity, are you that deprived of the outside world? jesus christ[/QUOTE]
Language barriers are fucking annoying
[QUOTE=Scottismelol;36457741][URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/kickapoonoo.png/][IMG]http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/3295/kickapoonoo.png[/IMG][/URL]
what.
( its in the USA :wtc: )[/QUOTE]
Kickapoo was a native american tribe
We learned about them in 3rd Grade. It was awesome
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;36457453]Although this idea sounds good, it's inevitable that languages die out.
Nobody speaks latin anymore as a first language.[/QUOTE]
That's quite a bad example though, seeing as Latin is a rather well known language, given it's the foundation for many languages.
whoa
[QUOTE=BROSEPH;36457752]Language barriers are fucking annoying[/QUOTE]
Then stop being a lazy doucher and learn the other language, instead of forcing them all to "unify" under what is conveniently yours.
This is why I like Google. They seem less like a money-hungry corporation and just more like an awesome service.
Diversity brings conflict but homogenization brings BORING.
We have to save as many languages as possible. Language is culture.
[QUOTE=ManningQB18;36457763]Kickapoo was a native american tribe
We learned about them in 3rd Grade. It was awesome[/QUOTE]
Was there a humble family, religious through and through?
[QUOTE=God of Ashes;36457442]what? that's incredibly stupid. diversity is a good thing killing it is a bad thing[/QUOTE]
I see languages as solely tools of communication and each separate language is a proprietary standard.
If you want to keep diversity, everyone can learn as many extra languages as they want, but there should be one common one shared by everyone.
[QUOTE=~ZOMG;36457785]That's quite a bad example though, seeing as Latin is a rather well known language, given it's the foundation for many languages.[/QUOTE]
Yes, but it is also a dead language. No one uses it nowadays except for, ironically, both scientists and the Church. While it provides a foundation for many languages, such as English, it lacks any modern updates to represent newer words or meanings. For instance, 90% of the objects in the room I'm in now are indescribable in Latin.
[QUOTE=Sam xD;36457206]While it's better for the world to be united under 1 or a few common languages, this feature sounds really cool.[/QUOTE]
Although you're KIND OF right, I prefer this world to be cultural and diverse.
But if all did learn English as a second language, then it'd be okay.
However, if it became the only language, this world would be incredibly dull.
[editline]23rd June 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=J!NX;36457464]
we need to limit diversity[/QUOTE]
That's pathetic.
[editline]23rd June 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=J!NX;36457464]
and the reason these languages are dying out is because they're becoming more useless. The more people speak the less languages the better. I'm not saying actively eliminate languages or people, you should preserve them in text, but if they're dying out, let it be.[/QUOTE]
They do die out naturally, preserving them is essential for historical context, but there is no need to be against diversity at all.
Small villages have their own language, and it's nice to know that they are happy.
Anyone who views language solely as a form of communication is horribly oversimplifying their significance, try actually learning a different language and reading some literature or poetry in it. A completely different sense of tone, timing and mood is present which would be otherwise unachievable were it translated to english. Enforcing people to learn english when they shouldn't need to is a bad idea, look at china or sweden. It bleeds into the native tongue and ruins a completely different and unique entity.
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;36457453]Although this idea sounds good, it's inevitable that languages die out.
Nobody speaks latin anymore as a first language.[/QUOTE]
That's a terrible example. Lots of people know at least a few well know Latin idioms or whatever, fewer (but still a large number) know enough Latin that they could speak some broken sentences.
[QUOTE=parket;36458036]Anyone who views language solely as a form of communication is horribly oversimplifying their significance, try actually learning a different language and reading some literature or poetry in it. A completely different sense of tone, timing and mood is present which would be otherwise unachievable were it translated to english. Enforcing people to learn english when they shouldn't need to is a bad idea, look at china or sweden. It bleeds into the native tongue and ruins a completely different and unique entity.[/QUOTE]
No one's saying that they have to stop speaking their language, but all people should at least be fluent in a single unified language so we can actually, you know, communicate with one another? Communication is a lot more important that the way you speak to someone. I don't know about you, but when I speak English and Spanish, but I don't feel like I'm embracing some cultural heritage. You can speak whatever language you feel like in music, poetry, where the "timing and mood" of the language "matters", but in terms of direct communication between humans, and within business, a single language is vastly more important than artistic language expression if you want to understand the people you're talking to.
[QUOTE=God of Ashes;36457442]what? that's incredibly stupid. diversity is a good thing killing it is a bad thing[/QUOTE]
Homogenizing culture is invariably a bad thing. However, an organic, natural progression towards a single language and set of common morals would go far to unite the people of the world in opposition to war.
[QUOTE=DarkendSky;36458098]That's a terrible example. Lots of people know at least a few well know Latin idioms or whatever, fewer (but still a large number) know enough Latin that they could speak some broken sentences.[/QUOTE]
Latin is still considered a dead language officially even if there are certain lines well known to people and phrases used in both law and medicine. Being a dead language just means a vast majority of the populace no longer speaks it casually, which is true.
[editline]23rd June 2012[/editline]
It's also true that when Latin died out, its culture didn't. Latin is still a huge part of our world even if not many people speaks it fluently to other people. It's the way all languages will eventually go, because if we can't understand each other, that's a bigger chance of bad things happening from misunderstandings.
[QUOTE=Sam xD;36457206]While it's better for the world to be united under 1 or a few common languages, this feature sounds really cool.[/QUOTE]
post doubleplusungood
[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;36457565]Having the world speak a common language does not mean to achieve that other languages need to go extinct. Most European nations are bilingual or multilingual, for example; their own language and a larger language like their neighbour's or something more widespread like English.[/QUOTE]
Agreed! I prefer talking in English to talking in German actually, just is more fluid to me because of the shorter words and "flow" of the pronunciation, but I much prefer reading heavy books in German because I think it's better at making things sound serious and impactful, sometimes even because of the length. I like how every language has its own flavor and weaknesses and strengths.
A world language would be more practical, but I think there's more to consider. If we only optimize the world for efficiency, we'll pay with many little things that make life beautiful in my opinion. Besides, eventually regional accents will evolve into their own languages eventually, so keeping the world clean of all languages but one sounds like a Sisyphean task.
[QUOTE=Loriborn;36458108]No one's saying that they have to stop speaking their language, but all people should at least be fluent in a single unified language so we can actually, you know, communicate with one another? Communication is a lot more important that the way you speak to someone. I don't know about you, but when I speak English and Spanish, but I don't feel like I'm embracing some cultural heritage. You can speak whatever language you feel like in music, poetry, where the "timing and mood" of the language "matters", but in terms of direct communication between humans, and within business, a single language is vastly more important than artistic language expression if you want to understand the people you're talking to.[/QUOTE]
I'm not saying languages are mutually exclusive I'm saying that forcing an entire populace to learn a foreign language just to communicate will damage the already existing culture. This is indisputable if you look at Sweden or China, it's already happened.
Quite frankly I don't give a shit if your local chip shop can't talk to a grocery store in france because let's face it, every business worth it's salt will have people hired to communicate past any language barriers.
[QUOTE=Sobotnik;36457453]Nobody speaks latin anymore as a first language.[/QUOTE]
State of the Vatican City does.
[QUOTE=J!NX;36457464]...except that racial / language diversity is whats causing a massive amount of grief and hate...
we need to limit diversity in the sense that we have most people keep their native language but also learn a mainstream language, and have everyone understand different cultures and races. Otherwise, people who can't understand X people will hate on them because of that.
and the reason these languages are dying out is because they're becoming more useless. The more people speak the less languages the better. I'm not saying actively eliminate languages or people, you should preserve them in text, but if they're dying out, let it be.[/QUOTE]
It all comes down to racial/religious differences, not much on the language side of things.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.
