| Revision as of 21:03, 4 July 2005 editMiskin (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users8,409 edits That's because Ancient and Modern Greek are not two separate languages, they are two stages of the same language. Don't start an edit war. Make your changes without adding Greek.← Previous edit | Revision as of 08:33, 5 July 2005 edit undoMahagaja (talk | contribs)Administrators92,661 edits unfortunately you leave me no choiceNext edit → | ||
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| An '''extinct language''' (also called a '''dead language''') is a ] which no longer has any ]s. The reason may be that the language |
An '''extinct language''' (also called a '''dead language''') is a ] which no longer has any ]s. The reason may be that the language has evolved into one or more daughter languages, or because the language was replaced by a different language. Examples of the first type include ], which evolved into the ], and ], which evolved into the modern ]. Examples of the second type include ], which was replaced by ], and many ], which were replaced by ], ], ], or ]. | ||
| In a some cases, an extinct language remains in use for ], ], or ] functions. Long after evolving into more modern languages, the classical forms of Latin, and Sanskrit have been used for scientific ]s. ], ], ], and ] are among the many extinct languages used as ]s. | In a some cases, an extinct language remains in use for ], ], or ] functions. Long after evolving into more modern languages, the classical forms of Latin, and Sanskrit have been used for scientific ]s. ], ], ], and ] are among the many extinct languages used as ]s. | ||
| A language that does have living native speakers is called a '''living language'''. ] claims there are 6,912 living languages known. | A language that does have living native speakers is called a '''living language'''. ] claims there are 6,912 living languages known. | ||
Revision as of 08:33, 5 July 2005
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An extinct language (also called a dead language) is a language which no longer has any native speakers. The reason may be that the language has evolved into one or more daughter languages, or because the language was replaced by a different language. Examples of the first type include Latin, which evolved into the Romance languages, and Sanskrit, which evolved into the modern Indo-Aryan languages. Examples of the second type include Coptic, which was replaced by Arabic, and many Native American languages, which were replaced by English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese.
In a some cases, an extinct language remains in use for scientific, legal, or ecclesiastical functions. Long after evolving into more modern languages, the classical forms of Latin, and Sanskrit have been used for scientific neologisms. Old Church Slavonic, Avestan, Coptic, and Ge'ez are among the many extinct languages used as sacred languages.
A language that does have living native speakers is called a living language. Ethnologue claims there are 6,912 living languages known.
In at least one case, Hebrew, an extinct language has been revived to become a living language. Other cases such as Manx and Cornish are disputed, as it is not clear they will ever become the common native language of a community of speakers.
See also
- Language death
- Linguicide
- Category:Last native speakers
- Endangered language
- List of extinct languages.
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