UN: two indigenous languages disappear every month
Despite all the efforts of the international community, every month two languages disappear in the world, spoken by representatives of indigenous peoples, and with them knowledge, customs and traditions. This was stated by the chairman of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, Tijani Mohammed-Bande.
At the UN General Assembly, they summed up the International Year of Indigenous Languages, which 2019 was announced. For 12 months, concerts, exhibitions, forums and discussions were held around the world on the issue of preserving indigenous languages.
In the world there are about 4 thousand indigenous languages. Some are spoken only by a few people. Tijani Mohammed-Bande recalled that the languages of the population play an important role in cultural and political self-determination. Indigenous languages are crucial for the survival of the entire global community: they contain the wisdom of traditional knowledge of the environment and intercultural communication. But most languages may disappear in coming decades.
“Every two weeks at least one indigenous language disappears from the face of the earth. Two extinct languages a month,” said Tijani Muhammad-Bande. He called for everything possible to be preserved for future generations. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted in 2007, also recognizes their right to revive, use and develop their language.
Today, according to the Chair, four thousand indigenous languages have been preserved, spoken by only 6% of the world's population.
