Many indigenous and minority languages are disappearing these days due to the ubiquity of major languages like English. In my view, although this might facilitate international communication, I do believe that this also holds the potential of losing linguistic diversity and cultural value.
On the one hand, those who argue that the thriving of English as a lingua franca is a positive development point out several advantages. Firstly, speaking English and other common languages can foster interconnectedness and communication on a global scale. In a globalization context, proficiency in widely spoken languages such as English can enhance cultural exchange between nations or continentals, making it easier to achieve further advancement in certain fields like economy or tourism. Secondly, speaking a universal language such as English can broaden one’s opportunities in the global market. For example, people now have greater opportunities to study and work due to the popularity of degrees and language certificates in a knowledge-based society.
On the other hand, despite these above-mentioned advantages, I would argue that the vanishing of local languages can have negative impacts. Language is believed to play an irreplaceable role in facilitating cultural development and preservation, expressing the togetherness of a culture. Languages serve as vital conduits for social interaction and are the primary vehicles for transmitting cultural heritage. It might be a natural process for a language to disappear, however, the erosion of several indigenous languages can lead to a catastrophic loss of linguistic diversity and cultural value. For instance, the near extinction of the Hawaiian language threatened to erase invaluable indigenous knowledge. In response, revitalization initiatives, such as the creation of Hawaiian language immersion schools, aimed to preserve and rejuvenate the language, thereby safeguarding cultural identity and heritage.
In conclusion, even though the dominance of major languages like English can promote global integration, it’s crucial to put an effort in preserving the regional languages in order to ensure lingual diversification.