Final answer:
Up to half of the world's living languages are predicted to disappear in the next century due to globalization. The majority of endangered languages are indigenous, often spoken by smaller populations now in greater contact with the global community. Preserving these languages is crucial for maintaining cultural diversity and heritage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Experts from LibreTexts™ predict that, due to the effects of globalization, up to half of the world's living languages could vanish by the end of the 21st century. This is attributed to diminishing language isolation, with more people abandoning native languages in favor of widely spoken ones that offer greater utility in a connected world. Unfortunately, most of the languages at risk are indigenous and are not benefiting from the global shift towards bilingualism in more dominant languages such as English.
The linguistic diversity is impacted by several socio-economic and cultural factors, including immigration, disparities in birth rates, and the growth or decline of certain population centers globally. Moreover, as people seek economic opportunities, integrate with other cultures, and migrate, their original languages may become endangered. Areas highlighted in blue on global linguistic diversity maps show where the most endangered languages are located, often correlating with regions that house smaller, indigenous or isolated populations, who are now interacting more frequently on a global scale.
Languages do more than facilitate communication; they're a repository of a community's collective knowledge and worldview. When a language becomes extinct, unique perspectives, cultural identities, and valuable knowledge are lost. Efforts to preserve and revitalize at-risk languages are essential for maintaining cultural heritage and diversity. The task is challenging but indispensable for preserving the mosaic of human expression found in our many languages.