Your Next Language: Perhaps a World-Saver?

Ever felt like the world we live in is steadily shrinking?

We're all glued to similar apps, binging on the same Hollywood blockbusters, and picking up the same handful of 'global languages'. Convenient, yes, but a tad bit… monotonous, isn't it? It's almost as if all the world's diverse cultures have been thrown into a blender, serving up a rather bland, single-flavour milkshake.

But beneath the surface of this 'globalisation milkshake', a far more profound crisis is quietly brewing.

Imagine, if you will, all human languages as a brilliant, sprawling constellation in the night sky. Each star, a beacon of a unique culture, a distinct worldview, a universe teeming with ancestral wisdom and untold stories.

English, Mandarin, Spanish… these are the brightest constellations, visible to us daily. But within this vast expanse, lie thousands of dimmer, yet equally beautiful stars – the languages of indigenous tribes, minority communities, and those on the verge of extinction.

Now, these very stars are dimming, one by one.

When a language vanishes, we lose far more than just a collection of words. We lose the poetry woven within its verses, the legends that only its unique cadence can narrate, the unparalleled wisdom passed down through generations – wisdom on coexisting with nature, on comprehending the very essence of life.

With every star that dims, our night sky grows a shade darker, and the rich tapestry of human civilisation loses a vibrant hue.

Sounds disheartening, doesn't it? But here's the silver lining: we are living in truly unprecedented times. Technology, once perceived as the very 'mixer' of cultures, is now emerging as the most potent tool for safeguarding these precious 'stars'.

You, an ordinary individual, don't need to be a linguist or embark on distant journeys to become a custodian of these 'stars'. All you need is your mobile phone.

This 'star map' below curates a host of apps that allow you to learn and explore these invaluable languages. Think of them as miniature spacecraft, ready to transport you directly into cultural universes you never even knew existed.

North America's Constellations

This land echoes with the voices of numerous ancient tribes.

• Hidden Gems in Mainstream Apps:

  • Memrise: Here, you can find courses for Cherokee, Inuktitut, Lakota, and more.
  • Drops: Offers learning modules for Hawaiian.
  • Duolingo: Has already launched courses for Navajo and Hawaiian.

• Dedicated Guardians:

  • The Language Conservancy: An organisation dedicated to preserving North American indigenous languages, it has developed numerous apps covering Mandan, Crow, Cheyenne, among others.
  • Ogoki Learning Systems Inc: Provides learning tools for various languages including Ojibway, Cree, Blackfeet.
  • Thornton Media Inc: Has developed apps for languages like Cree, Mohawk, Chickasaw.

Latin America's Sun

From the Mayans to the Incas, the languages of this land resonate with mystery and power.

• Treasures in Mainstream Apps:

  • Memrise: Offers courses for Yucatec Maya, Guarani, Quechua, and more.
  • Duolingo: If you switch your app language to Spanish, you can learn Guarani.

• Specialised Exploration Tools:

  • Centro Cultural de España en México: Has developed beautifully designed apps for Mexican indigenous languages such as Nāhuatl and Mixteco.
  • SimiDic: A powerful dictionary app supporting mutual translation between Aymara, Guarani, and Quechua.
  • Guaranglish: An engaging app specifically for learning Guarani.

Australia & Pacific's Waves

Across the vast Pacific, the languages of the islands are scattered like pearls.

• Choices in Mainstream Apps:

  • uTalk: You can learn Maori, Samoan, and Fijian.
  • Drops: Also offers Maori and Samoan.
  • Master Any Language: Covers various Pacific Island languages including Maori, Samoan, Fijian, Tongan, Tahitian.

• Local Voices:

  • Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages: Dedicated to preserving indigenous languages in Victoria, Australia, it has released several related apps.
  • Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation Limited: Focuses on preserving the Wiradjuri language of Australia.

This list, mind you, is just the tip of the iceberg. Its message isn't to dictate 'which one you should learn', but rather to exclaim, 'Look at the plethora of choices you have!'

Learning an endangered language might not offer the immediate career advantages that, say, English does. But what it does bestow upon you is something far more invaluable:

• An expedition for your mind: You'll discover that the world can be described and understood in entirely different ways.
• A profound connection: You'll transcend being a mere tourist, becoming instead a participant and inheritor of a culture.
• A true sense of empowerment: Each act of learning from your end is like infusing light into a star on the verge of fading.

This isn't merely about learning; it's about forging connections. Imagine, after fumbling through a few phrases in an ancient tongue, being able to exchange even a few words with the handful of its remaining speakers worldwide. What an absolutely magical experience that would be, wouldn't it?

Fortunately, contemporary technology can even help you surmount the initial hurdles of learning. Chat apps like Intent come equipped with powerful in-built AI translation. This enables you, even if you only know how to say 'Namaste' or 'Hello', to engage in meaningful dialogues with individuals across the globe, transforming language barriers into bridges of communication.

So, the next time you find the world feeling a bit monotonous, why not open your app store? Instead of downloading the latest trending game, seek out a 'star' you've never encountered before.

Make it a point to learn a 'hello' in an ancient tongue, to grasp a unique concept that exists solely within a particular culture.

What you save might not merely be a word, but an entire world. And that very world, in turn, will undoubtedly illuminate your own.