Final answer:
Many indigenous languages across the globe are at high risk of disappearing due to globalization, historic colonialism, and preferences for major world languages, but revitalization efforts have seen some success.
Step-by-step explanation:
The languages most likely to disappear in the near future are those spoken by smaller, indigenous populations, which are at risk due to factors like globalization, colonialism, and the dominance of major world languages. According to experts, such as those from LibreTexts™, globalization has caused increased interaction among the world's populations, leading to the abandonment of local languages in favor of more widely spoken ones. This trend is exacerbated by historical processes like colonialism, where indigenous peoples were often forced to adopt the language of their colonizers, especially in America, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii.Indigenous languages are critical as they embody unique cultural knowledge, oral histories, and a community's relationship with their environment. However, despite the bleak outlook for many indigenous languages, some have experienced revitalization and resurgence through dedicated community efforts and educational programs. These efforts highlight the importance of preserving linguistic diversity and the cultural richness it represents.