List Of Endangered Languages

In order to judge if a language is endangered, the number of speakers is less important than the age distribution; there may be 500,000 speakers of Breton over 50 years of age, but fewer than 2,000 are under 25 years of age - thus it is highly likely that Breton will die out in the next half-century (a situation mirrored in the U.S., albeit on a smaller scale, among most Native Americans and the Cajuns of southern Louisiana). There are languages in Indonesia reported to be in a similar situation with as many as two million native speakers alive now, but all of advancing age, with practically no transmission to the young. On the other hand, while there are 30,000 Ladin speakers left, almost all children still learn it as their mother tongue, thus Ladin is not endangered in the 21st Century . Similarly, the Hawaiian Language has only about 1,000 speakers but it has stabilized at this number, and now has school instruction in the language from kindergarten through college.

While there are somewhere around six or seven thousand languages on Earth today, about half of them have fewer than about 3,000 speakers. Experts predict that even in a good scenario, about half of today's languages will go extinct within the next fifty to one hundred years. Accordingly, the list below presents only a sample of the approximately 3,000 currently endangered languages.

AFRICA

ASIA

Ainu , Northern Japan , 1,000 speakers

Aramaic , Lebanon , Syria

Bathari , Oman

Caviteño Chabacano , Cavite City , Philippines , less than 500 speakers

Chhintang , Nepal , 1,000 speakers or fewer

Chong , Cambodia and Thailand , about 5500 speakers (per Ethnologue )

Chukchi , North-Eastern Siberia , circa 10,400 speakers ( 2001 )

Chulym , Russia , approx. 100 fluent speakers

Harsusi , Oman

Kadazan , Sabah , Malaysia

Ket , Krasnoyarsk Krai , Russia , the last Ieniseian Language ,

Kristang (Cristão) (Portuguese creole spoken in Malacca , Malaysia )

Laz , Georgia , Turkey

Macanese (Patuá, Macaista) in Macao

Manchu , Northeast China , fewer than 100 speakers

Mehri , Yemen and Oman

Languages of the Northern Indigenous Peoples Of Russia

Ratagnon , Mindoro , Philippines

Nuristani Languages

Sanskrit , India , Nepal

Shehri , Oman

Soqotri , Socotra , Yemen

Most Taiwanese Aborigine Language s, Taiwan

Ulch , Russia , 1,000 speakers or fewer

Many languages in Indonesia

AUSTRALIA AND PACIFIC

most Australian Aboriginal Languages

--- Yanyuwa , four speakers

Auslan - Australian Sign Language

Susuami , Papua New Guinea , 10 speakers in 2000

EUROPE

European Union

--- Alsatian ( France ). Rapidly in decline

--- Aragonese ( Spain ). Rapidly in decline

--- Aromanian ( Greece and the Balkans ). Rapidly in decline

--- Arvanitika (Greece). Rapidly declining, very few elder speakers

--- Basque ( Spain and France ). In decline.

--- Breton (France). Rapidly in decline

--- Cornish ( United Kingdom ). Previously extinct, attempts at revival have restored small native speakership

--- Corsican (France). Rapid decline

--- East Frisian Low Saxon ( Germany ) in decline

--- Franco-Provençal ( Italy , Switzerland , and France ). Rapid decline

--- Friulian (Italy) in decline

--- Griko (south Italian Greek ) ( Italy ). Rapidly in decline

--- Italkian (Judeo-Italian) (Italy). Possibly extinct

--- Kashubian ( Pomeranian ) ( Poland ). Rapidly in decline

--- Karaim

--- Leonese (Spain). Rapidly in decline

--- Livonian ( Estonia and Latvia ). Approx. 35 speakers

--- Manx ( Isle Of Man ). Speakership previously dropped to only as a second language, attempts at revival have restored small native speakership

--- Molise Slavic (Italy). Rapidly in decline

--- Norman (France and Channel Islands ). Rapidly in decline

--- North Frisian (Germany). In decline

--- Occitan (France). In decline

--- Romansh Language (Switzerland). Most speakers elderly, younger generation-urban migration.

--- Sami Languages , ( Scandinavia ). Some have fewer than 100 speakers

--- Samogitian Language , ( Lithuania ). Rapidly in decline

--- Scottish Gaelic (United Kingdom). Gaelic is not now classified as endangered by the Scottish parliament but is also endangered in North America

--- Seeltersk (Germany). Most speakers eldery, signs of revival

--- Tsakonian Language (Greece). Only 300 speakers

--- Lower Sorbian , (Germany). Rapidly in decline

--- Upper Sorbian , (Germany). In decline

--- West Flemish (France, Belgium ) in decline in France, not in Belgium-->

--- Wymysorys (Poland). Fewer than 100 speakers

Outside of the European Union

---Insular Norman ( Jèrriais , Dgèrnésiais and Sercquiais ), ( Channel Islands ). Rapidly in decline; fewer than 5,000 speakers ( Sercquiais has less than 20 fluent speakers).

--- Istro-romanian , Istria Croatia . 500 speakers

--- Krimchak (Judeo-Crimean Tatar)

--- Mordvin ( Russia ). Steady decline

-- Erzya Language

-- Moksha Language

--- Votian , Russia . 20 speakers

NORTH AMERICA

Canada

--- Abenaki . 20 speakers in 1991.

--- Beaver , 300 speakers in 1991.

--- Bella Coola . 20 speakers in 2002.

--- Cayuga , 40 to 60 speakers in 2002.

--- Chinook Wawa . 83 speakers in Canada in 1962.

--- Haida , Northern and Southern dialects, fewer than 40 speakers in Canada in 1995.

--- Haisla . 25 speakers in 1991.

--- Han . 7 or 8 speakers in Canada in 1997.

--- Kutenai . 6 speakers in Canada in 2002.

--- Michif .About 600 speakers in 1998.

--- Munsee . 7 or 8 speakers in 1991.

--- Oneida , fewer than 250 speakers in 1991.

--- Onondaga . 50 to 100 speakers in 1991.

--- Potawatomi , 100 speakers

--- Straits Salish . 20 speakers in Canada in 2002.

--- Scottish Gaelic (United Kingdom/ Canada) Only 500 speakers in Nova Speakers. Rapidly in decline

--- Sechelt . 40 speakers in 1990.

--- Sekani . 30 to 40 speakers in 1997.

--- Seneca . 25 speakers in 1991.

--- Squamish . 15 speakers in 2002.

--- Tagish . 2 speakers in 1995.

--- Tahltan . 35 speakers in 2002.

--- Tlingit . 145 speakers in Canada in 1998.

--- Tsuu T'ina or ''Sarsi''. 50 speakers in 1991.

--- Tuscarora . 7 or 8 speakers in Canada in 1991.

Costa Rica

--- Boruca . 5 women speakers in 1986. 30 to 35 nonfluent speakers.

El Salvador

--- Lenca .

--- Pipil . 20 speakers in 1987.

Guatemala

--- Itza' . 12 speakers in 1986.

Honduras

--- Lenca . Only a few speakers in Honduras in 1993.

Nicaragua

--- Rama . 24 speakers in 1989.

Mexico

--- Awakatek Language . 21 speakers in 2006. (This is living in Guatemala) -->

--- Kiliwa . 36 speakers in 2006.

--- Lacandón Language . 44 speakers in 2006. (SIL counted 1000 speakers in 2000?)

--- Ixil . 77 speakers in 2006. This is living in Guatemala -->

--- Mocho' Language . 110 speakers in 2006.

--- O'odham Language . 116 speakers in 2006. (living in US)-->

--- Cucapá Language . 116 speakers in 2006.

--- Tektitek Language . 154 speakers in 2006.

--- Kikapú/kikaapoa Language . 157 speakers in 2006. (living in US)-->

--- Pai Pai/Jaspuy Pai Language . 200 speakers in 2006.

--- Ixcatec Language . 213 speakers in 2006.

--- Kumiai/Tipai Language . 298 speakers in 2006.

--- Popti' . 400 speakers in 2006. {Link without Title} this is living in Guatemala -->

--- Chiapanec . 17 speakers in 1990. (extinct now)

--- Matlatzinca, Atzingo . 50 to 100 speakers in 1993.

--- Matlatzinca, San Francisco .

--- Oluta Popoluca around 30 speakers

--- Opata . 15 speakers in 1993. (functionally extinct)

--- Otomi De Tilapa 100 speakers

--- Texistepec Popoluca around 400 elderly speakers

--- Zapotec, Asunción Mixtepec . 100 speakers in 1990.

--- Zapotec, San Agustín Mixtepec . 59 speakers in 1994.

--- Zoque, Tabasco . 40 speakers in 1971. (considered extinct)

Panama

--- San Miguel Creole French . 3 speakers in 1999.

United States

--- Achumawi . 10 nonfluent speakers in 1997.

--- Ahtena . 80 speakers in 1995.

--- Kiowa Apache . 18 speakers in 1990.

--- Lipan Apache . 2 or 3 speakers in 1981.

--- Arikara . 20 speakers in 1997.

--- Atsugewi . 3 speakers in 1994.

--- Caddo . 25 speakers in 1997.

--- Cahuilla . 7 to 20 speakers in 1994.

--- Cajun French . Usage, though not necessarily fluency, is almost entirely limited to those over the age of 50.

--- Chetco . 5 speakers in 1962.

--- Chinook . 12 speakers of Kiksht dialect in 1996.

--- Chinook Wawa . 17 speakers in the USA in 1990.

--- Clallam . 10 speakers in 1997.

--- Coeur D'Alene . 5 speakers in 1999.

--- Coos . 1 or 2 speakers in 1962.

--- Degexit'an . 20 to 30 speakers in 1997.

--- Dena'ina (Tanaina). 75 speakers in 1997.

--- Eyak . 1 speaker in 2006.

--- Gros Ventre . 10 speakers in 1977.

--- Northern Haida . 15 speakers in the USA in 1995.

--- Han . 7 or 8 speakers in Alaska in 1995.

--- Holikachuk . 12 speakers in 1995.

--- Hupa . 8 speakers in 1998.

--- Kalapuya . 1 or 2 speakers in 1962.

--- Kansa . 19 speakers in 1990.

--- Karok . 10 speakers in 1997.

--- Kashaya . 45 speakers in 1994.

--- Kawaiisu . 8 to 10 speakers in 2000.

--- Klamath-Modoc . 1 speaker in 1998.

--- Upper Kuskokwim . 40 speakers in 1995.

--- Kutenai . 6 speakers in the USA in 2002.

--- Luiseño . 30 to 40 speakers in 2000.

--- Lushootseed . 60 speakers in 1990.

--- Northeastern Maidu . 1 to 2 speakers in 1994.

--- Northwestern Maidu . 3 to 6 speakers in 1994.

--- Mandan . 6 speakers in 1992.

--- Menominee . 39 speakers.

--- Central Sierra Miwok . 12 speakers in 1994.

--- Lake Miwok . 1 to 2 speakers in 1994.

--- Northern Sierra Miwok . 6 speakers in 1994.

--- Plains Miwok . 1 speaker in 1962.

--- Southern Sierra Miwok . 7 speakers in 1994.

--- Mono . 37 to 41 speakers in 1994.

--- Nisenan . 1 speaker in 1994.

--- Osage . 5 speakers in 1991.

--- Panamint . 20 speakers.

--- Pawnee . 20 speakers in 1997.

--- Central Pomo . 2 to 5 speakers in 1997.

--- Southeastern Pomo . 5 speakers in 1994.

--- Southern Pomo . 1 speaker in 1994.

--- Potawatomi . 50 speakers in 1995.

--- Quapaw . 34 speakers in 1990.

--- Quileute . 10 speakers in 1977.

--- Salish (Flathead Reservation) . 57 speakers in 2006.

--- Straits Salish .

--- Seneca . 150 speakers in 1998.

--- Serrano . 1 speaker in 1994.

--- Snohomish . 10 speakers in 1998.

--- Tanacross . 35 speakers in 1997.

--- Lower Tanana . 30 speakers in 1995.

--- Tolowa . 4 to 5 speakers in 1994 Hinton.

--- Texas German . Near extinction.

--- Tlingit . less than 400 in the USA in 2006.

--- Tubatulabal . 6 speakers.

--- Tuscarora . 4 to 5 speakers in the USA in 1997.

--- Tututni . 10 speakers in 1962.

--- Wasco-Wishram . 69 speakers in 1990.

--- Washo . 10 speakers in 1998.

--- Wichita . 3 speakers in 2000.

--- Wintu . 5 or 6 speakers in 1997.

--- Yokuts . 78 speakers of Northern Foothill Yokuts in 1990.

--- Yuchi . 10 to 12 speakers in 1997.

--- Yurok . 12 speakers in 2002.

SOUTH AMERICA

Argentina

--- Ona . 1 to 3 speakers in 1991.

--- Puelche , 5 or 6 speakers.

--- Tehuelche ('' Aonikenk ''), 4 speakers in 2000.

--- Vilela . 20 speakers in 1981.

Bolivia

--- Baure . 13 speakers in 2000.

--- Itonama . 10 speakers in 2000.

--- Leco . 20 speakers in 2001.

--- Pacahuara . 17 speakers in 2000.

--- Reyesano . Possibly a few speakers. Ethnic population about 4,000.

--- Uru . 2 speakers in 2000.

Brazil

--- Amanayé . Ethnic population: 60.

--- Anambé . 7 speakers in 1991.

--- Apiacá . 2 speakers in 1986.

--- Arikapú . 6 speakers in 1998.

--- Aruá . 12 speakers in 1990.

--- Arutani . 17 speakers in Brazil in 1986.

--- Aurá . 2 speakers in 2004 SIL).

--- Cafundo Creole . 40 speakers in 1978.

--- Guató . 40 speakers in 1993.

--- Himarimã . 40 speakers.

--- Jabutí . 5 speakers in 1990.

--- Jumá . 4 speakers in 1998. There were 300 in 1940.

--- Karahawyana . 40 speakers in 1995.

--- Karipuná . 12 to 15 speakers in 2000.

--- Katawixi . 10 speakers in 1986.

--- Katukína . 1 speaker in 1976. Ethnic population: 360.

--- Kreye . 30 speakers in 1995.

--- Mapidian . 50 in speakers in Brazil in 1986.

--- Matipuhy . 40 speakers in 1995.

--- Mondé . 30 speakers in 1995.

--- Ofayé . 15 speakers in 2002.

--- Omagua . There may be none left in Brazil since 1995.

--- Oro Win . 5 speakers in 1996.

--- Pirahã . 150 speakers in 2004. Ethnic population: 200.

--- Puruborá . 2 speakers in 2002.

--- Sikiana . 33 speakers in Brazil in 1986.

--- Tariano . 100 speakers in Brazil in 1996.

--- Torá . 40 speakers in 1990.

--- Tremembé .

--- Xetá . 3 speakers in 1990.

--- Xipaya . 2 speakers in 2000.

Chile

--- Qawasqar . 20 speakers in 1996.

--- Yaghan . 2 speakers in 2003.

Colombia

--- Cabiyarí . 50 speakers in 1976.

--- Tariano . Ethnic population: 332 in Colombia in 1998.

--- Tinigua . 2 speakers in 2000).

--- Totoro . 4 speakers in 1998.

--- Tunebo Angosturas . 50 speakers.

Ecuador

--- Záparo . 1 speaker in 2000.

Guyana

--- Berbice Creole Dutch . 4 or 5 speakers in 1993.

--- Mapidian .

--- Mawayana . 50 speakers in 1986.

Peru

--- Cahuarano . 5 speakers in 1976.

--- Chamicuro . 2 speakers in 2000.

--- Iñapari . 4 speakers in 1999.

--- Iquito . 35 speakers in 2002.

--- Isconahua . 82 speakers in 2000.

--- Jebero .

--- Mascho Piro . 20 to 100 speakers in 1976.

--- Muniche . 3 speakers in 1988.

--- Omagua . 10 to 100 speakers in 1976.

--- Resígaro . 14 speakers in 1976.

--- Taushiro . 1 speaker in 2002.

Suriname

--- Akurio . 10 speakers in 2000.

--- Sikiana . 15 speakers in Suriname in 2001.

Venezuela

--- Arutani . 2 speakers in Venezuela in 2002.

--- Mapoyo . 3 speakers in 2000.

--- Pémono . 1 speaker in 2000.

--- Sapé . 5 speakers in 1977.

--- Sikiana .

--- Yabarana . 20 to 50 speakers in 1977.

REFERENCES

SEE ALSO

Endangered Language

List Of Extinct Languages

List Of Revived Languages

Language Families And Languages

Language Policy

The Red Book Of The Peoples Of The Russian Empire

EXTERNAL LINKS

List of more than 500 nearly extinct languages in SIL 's Ethnologue Report (print version 2005: ISBN 1-55671-159-X).

UNESCO Red Book of Endangered Languages

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