From early humans to modern civilization, from the Indus Valley to contemporary India, we as a race have evolved, we have changed, the world has changed, and so have our languages. Some advanced, adapting to new times. Some faded into limbo. Some were forgotten entirely.
Our ways of expression have shifted too. From paintings on cave walls to inscriptions on stone tablets, from complaining about the bad quality of copper on those tablets to lodging complaints on paper, or tweeting on X. The medium changes, but the emotions remain the same. Language has always been a bridge, connecting people across time and cultures.
Speaking of languages, I recently came across a reel featuring a small tribe of about 40 people, descendants of an ancient lineage from the Indian subcontinent. They spoke a language older than India's independence, yet it now stands on the brink of extinction. It made me wonder: what causes a language to disappear? Are languages still dying today? And what happens to those that have already vanished?
How do we piece together the voices of extinct languages, and in doing so, understand the people, cultures, and lives they once shaped?
What Causes a Language to Die?
A language is only as alive as the culture and people who speak it. When a culture is destroyed, overpowered, or colonized, its language often follows. In India, Sanskrit suffered this fate. Different rulers brought different beliefs and imposed them on the native population, slowly pushing older languages aside.
Urdu, a poetic language, was formed by blending Farsi and Hindi, making pure Hindi a distant language even to those who consider it their mother tongue. When the British ruled India, they imposed English, stripping many native languages of their identity.
Today, globalization and the push for a universal language further threaten native tongues. People seeking better opportunities often leave behind not only their culture but also their language in pursuit of success.
Languages that are only spoken and not written down are even more vulnerable. Words change over time, and if a language isn’t passed down to the next generation, it disappears. A prime example is the Great Andamanese languages, which are on the verge of extinction.
Extinction and Endangerment
Languages like Majhi and Saimar are on the brink of extinction, while Prakrit, once widely spoken, has almost completely disappeared. However, thanks to documentation and the efforts of linguists, some extinct languages survive in written form. While they may no longer be spoken, they still exist on paper, something we can learn and preserve as a part of history.
Reconstructing Lost Languages
Languages can be revived or learned once again if they are documented. Ancient inscriptions, historical texts, and linguistic comparisons help scholars piece together lost tongues. For example, Brahmi script was an old language that was deciphered from Ashoka’s edicts, while Prakrit and Pali have been studied through Sanskrit texts. Nowadays, linguists record different endangered languages to preserve them for future generations.
Are Languages Still Dying?
Yes, and at an alarming rate. India has over 190 endangered languages, some with fewer than 100 speakers left. Great Andamanese languages, Kota, Birhor, and Nihali are on the brink of extinction. When a language dies, so does its culture, traditions, and unique knowledge.
Why Language Preservation Matters?
A language is an identity, not just a means of communication. Reviving dying languages, like Sanskrit in academia or tribal dialects in schools, helps retain cultural heritage. Education, documentation, and digital tools can slow language loss and keep history alive.