Final answer:
Experts estimate that up to 50 percent of the world's languages may be lost by the end of the 21st century due to globalization. Indigenous languages are particularly at risk, with many spoken by only a small number of people. The trend towards language death highlights the urgency of language revitalization efforts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Estimating the percentage by which languages spoken on our planet have decreased in the past 50 years cannot be done precisely due to the complexity and variability of language use and documentation. However, experts from LibreTexts™ highlight a concerning trend: they estimate that up to 50 percent of the world's living languages could potentially be lost by the end of the 21st century, primarily due to the forces of globalization. As people from different cultures increasingly interact, many switch to more dominant languages, leaving their native tongues behind. Further exacerbating the problem, an increasing number of indigenous languages are in peril. For example, Australia once had around 300 indigenous languages, and now only about 70 remain, most of which are in danger of extinction.
In contrast to these declining figures, some languages enjoy widespread use. About a dozen languages are spoken by more than 100 million people each. Despite this, the vast majority of the over 6,000 languages worldwide are spoken by a small number of people, and many are without a written form. This trend is mirrored in attitudes towards language learning; only 50 percent of students have expressed an interest in studying languages like Spanish, indicating a potential lack of interest in linguistic diversity.
The disappearance of languages carries with it the loss of unique cultural perspectives, with languages encoding diverse experiences and cultural wisdom. Approximately 40 percent of the world's languages are currently considered endangered. Language death, when no living person speaks a language, is a real threat, although language revitalization efforts can help save these vital aspects of human heritage.