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I have been reading a fascinating new book written by Andrew Dalby, an American linguist and historian living in France. *Language in Danger is a celebration of the world's linguistic diversity. And it has a dire warning. Our languages are dying at rate of one every two weeks. Within a hundred years, the total of 5,000 will be halved.
That is not just a matter of cultural regret. Loss of language diversity, says Mr Dalby, threatens the future of humanity.
Every language embodies its own view of the world, reflecting the way its users interact with their unique environment. So every language contains knowledge which is different from every other. And each contributes crucially to the sum of our understanding of our planet.
There are plenty of examples of the way the knowledge of people who have never ventured out of their small corner of the universe has come to the aid of humanity. Some of our most valuable medicines, such as quinine, have been discovered as a result of studying the...