From Maithili to Ladino: The Dying Languages Expected to Disappear by the End of the Century | Weekend Special
A special feature reviews endangered languages expected to vanish by the end of the century: Romansh, Irish, Ladino, Breton, and Hawaiian. According to estimates, 40%–50% of the world's approximately 7,000 languages are at risk, and up to 90% may disappear by 2100.
A special weekend feature on i24NEWS reviews several languages that are endangered and expected to disappear by the end of the 21st century. According to estimates, between 40% and 50% of the approximately 7,000 languages spoken today are endangered, and pessimistic forecasts speak of up to 90% of them disappearing by 2100. The article presents five examples: Romansh (Switzerland) – about 40,000 native speakers; Irish – about 72,000 daily users outside the education system; Ladino – 50–130 thousand speakers, most in Israel and over age 70; Breton (France) – about 200,000 speakers, most over 60; and Hawaiian – an example of partial revival, with 18–27 thousand speakers today. The article emphasizes that the phenomenon is not limited to distant continents and also occurs within Jewish communities.