Definition of linguistic diversity - What it is, Meaning and Concept

Diversity refers to the abundance of different things , variety and difference. linguistics , meanwhile, is that pertaining to or relative to language (the communication system that allows us to abstract and communicate concepts) or language (the verbal communication system of human beings).

linguistic diversity , therefore, is related to the existence and coexistence of different languages ​​.The concept defends respect for all languages ​​and promotes the preservation of those who are at risk of extinction in the absence of speakers.

A language disappears when the last member of the social group that speaks it dies.When this happens, intergenerational transmission fails through which the elders teach the mother tongue to their children.

The disappearance of the language implies a very important and irrecoverable loss of knowledge.We must not forget that the cultures find in the language their main vehicle of expression; when a language ceases to exist, therefore, the culture in question suffers the risk of running the same fate, and that is why linguistic diversity is so relevant.

It is estimated that there are more than 6,000 languages ​​in the world. Oceania is the continent with the greatest linguistic diversity since there are numerous aboriginal groups that defend their native language.In other regions of the world, however , it is more common for a dominant language to prevail over the rest.That is the case, for example, of United States of America , where English led to the disappearance of the languages ​​of most of the native settlers.

The road to the extinction of a language begins long before the disappearance of a people, and in many cases it is the responsibility of the same.When it is a dialect or a language not recognized as such by the country in which it is He speaks, it may happen that, for different historical and political issues, his speakers feel inhibited in some way by the rest of the population and that they do not defend their own culture with all the necessary strength to keep it alive.

It is known that human beings are reluctant to change and everything we do not know, but it is also true that even the hardest and most closed beings are able to open and move forward, given the right conditions and the necessary effort.It is the key to any revolution that seeks to leave a mark on its participants; This does not mean that it is enough to immobilize in a posture and wait for the acceptance of others, but it does mean that it is thanks to the patience and persistence that the mental structure of people is modified.

Without entering in specific cases, there are numerous regions throughout the world where languages ​​are preserved, generally considered dialects, that have transcended over many decades, and it is contradictory to note that in some of these populations there are two phenomena that undermine their own culture : Each generation has fewer people who learn their language, and those who do tend to fear using it in front of individuals who do not speak it, choosing to use the main language of the country.

At a time when technology offers us the opportunity to access information without borders, we human beings seem to take advantage of it to work less and lock ourselves even more in our small worlds, with our friends, with our customs, with our language; A tool that should help us get closer to others and look beyond stereotypes, becomes an ecosystem plagued with hatred, contempt and abuse, and separates us more and more.Internet can be very beneficial for a culture in danger of extinction, and it is important that it be used in order to give each one a space, which corresponds to him, to share knowledge without fear of rejection.