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There are currently about 7,000 languages in the world and approximately 2,500 of them are at risk of extinction, warned a representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Turkey.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) on the occasion of February 21 – International Mother Language Day, the chairman of the National Commission of Turkey (UTMK) of UNESCO, Prof. Dr. Alcal Oğuz said that out of 62 international days declared by UNESCO, five are related to languages.
Oğuz says that as part of this day, activities are organized to protect cultural diversity, as well as to draw attention to linguistic diversity and endangered languages.
“There are about 7,000 languages in the world. Among them, about 2,500 face the risk of extinction because the number of people who speak them is declining. “According to statistics and compiled data, unfortunately, every 15 days, one of these languages disappears,” he said.
“The endangerment and extinction of languages has increased in recent years, especially due to social, political and economic changes in the world,” Oğuz added.
According to him, most endangered languages consist of languages spoken by less than 10 thousand people.
He also said that it is difficult to find speakers of about 200 languages.
“The number of languages extinct since 1950 is over 250,” Oğuz said.
The designation of the International Mother Language Day on 21 February was adopted at the 30th General Conference of UNESCO on 17 November 1999./AA/
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