Final answer:
While there is no strict numerical threshold for when a language is considered endangered, it often applies to those with very few speakers and declining use, especially among younger generations. The loss of globalization and suppressive historical events have greatly accelerated language endangerment. Language revitalization efforts are key to preserving these vulnerable languages.
Step-by-step explanation:
Language endangerment occurs when a language is at risk of falling out of use. Though there is no specific number of speakers that universally defines when a language is considered endangered, significant factors include a declining number of speakers, the age distribution of speakers (with younger generations not learning the language), and the extent to which the language is used in various domains of social life. The endangerment of languages is a global issue, with LibreTexts™ experts estimating that up to half the world's living languages could be lost by the end of the 21st century due to globalization. As people increasingly interact globally, many switch to more dominant languages for practical reasons, often abandoning their native tongues. This process is exacerbated by colonialism and imperialism, which have historically suppressed indigenous languages.
In many cases, languages with a very small number of speakers, say fewer than a thousand or even a hundred, are often considered severely endangered or nearly extinct. However, it is crucial to note that language revitalization efforts can revive languages that are considered dormant or sleeping, ensuring they can be preserved and used by future generations.
Indigenous languages are particularly vulnerable, as highlighted by the situation of Aboriginal languages in Australia, where out of 300 languages that were spoken before European arrival, only about 70 remain today. This decline in linguistic diversity entails the loss of cultural heritage, wisdom, and unique worldviews encoded within these languages.