The Importance of Keeping Endangered Languages Alive

It is currently estimated that 6,000 languages are spoken in the world. Of these, about half will die out this century, meaning that a language dies roughly every two weeks. Professor Mari Jones of Cambridge University will discuss the causes of language endangerment and the importance of revitalising endangered and minority languages around the world – for the speaker, the linguist and the preservation of the human knowledge base. She will also talk about her research project which led to the first ever comparative glossary of the Norman Language in the Channel Islands, offering a unique insight into the linguistic heritage and culture of Guernsey, Jersey and Sark.