The monetary usage of the governments has long been a topic of heated debate. While many people argue that spending money on the preservation of languages that are almost dying out is worthwhile,others think it is a waste of money. I partly agree with this notion as besides conservation of few speakers languages, the authorities can also allocate money for urgent human beings’ problems.
On the one hand, it should be recognized that investing money to save languages with few speakers can maintain cultural diversity around the world. To be more specific, it is common knowledge that language is intertwined with a nation’s or region’s ethnicity and traditions. Take the Yuchi language in the USA, which has no relatives, is deeply tied to the Yuchi’s cultural heritage. Despite their languages being endangered, they still hold their own cultural events such as the Green Corn Festival and Winter Storytelling Gatherings. Thus, making investments in the conservation of such languages as the Yuchi or other languages with few speakers left can not only strengthen the diversity of cultures around the world, but also provides people with opportunities to broaden their horizons about cultures of other communities.
Despite the aforementioned arguments, I still hold the belief that the authorities using their money in addressing urgent human beings’ problems is more rational. One major problem is poverty since a lot of people now are in dire need of financial aid. To tackle this problem, the governments can erect community housing or they can invest in infrastructure projects or job training programmes to provide jobs for the unemployed. This, in the long run, will reduce the unemployment rate in a country and help boost a nation’s economy. Additionally, healthcare is another critical field that needs funding since a big number of individuals are suffering from incurable diseases such as dementia or cancer. In doing so, they can build more hospitals or make investments in the development of healthcare equipment, which may eventually help people have a better life quality and increase their total well-being, creating a society of good standard of living.
To recapitulate, while it is undeniable that providing money to conserve languages with few speakers can maintain cultural diversity worldwide, it is equally crucial for the governments to use their funds to address pressing social issues. Striking a balance between the preservation of languages and solving urgent human beings’ problems can ensure the most effective use of national funds.