hymnalayan: 2009

In January 1997 the last native speaker of the language Sireniki Eskimo, a woman named Vyie (Valentina Wye) died. The language is now extinct. Today all Sireniki Eskimos speak a Siberian Yupik language or Russian. In the last 500 years, an estimated half of the world's languages, from Etruscan to Tasmanian, have become extinct. Researchers say the languages of the world are now vanishing faster than ever in recorded history.

Of the more than 500 languages in danger of extinction, most of them may be spoken by fewer than ten people.

Eighty percent of species remain undiscovered by science, but that doesn't mean those species are unknown to humans. The people who live in those ecosystems know the native species intimately and often have more sophisticated ways of classifying them than science. As languages die we throw away centuries worth of knowledge and discovery that humans have been making all along.

Here is a list of (known) extinct languages.

NORTH AMERICA

Canada

* Beothuk
* Laurentian
* Newfoundland Irish
* Pentlatch
* Tsetsaut
* Wyandot

United States

* Abnaki, Eastern
* Adai
* Alsea
* Atakapa
* Barbareño
* Biloxi
* Cayuse
* Chehalis
* Chimariko
* Chitimacha
* Coquille
* Costanoan, Northern
* Costanoan, Southern
* Cowlitz
* Cruzeño
* Delaware, Pidgin
* Eel River Athabaskan
* Esselen
* Etchemin
* Eyak
* Galice-Applegate
* Hanis
* Ineseño
* Iowa-Oto
* Island Chumash
* Jersey Dutch
* Karkin
* Kathlamet
* Kitsai
* Kwalhioqua-Clatskanie
* Loup A
* Loup B
* Lower Chinook
* Lumbee
* Mahican
* Maidu, Valley
* Martha's Vineyard Sign Language
* Massachusett
* Mattole-Bear River
* Miami-Illinois
* Miluk
* Miwok: Bay Miwok
* Miwok: Coast Miwok
* Mobilian
* Mohegan
* Molala
* Nanticoke
* Narragansett
* Natchez
* Nooksack
* Northern Kalapuyan
* Obispeño
* Ofo
* Pamlico
* Piro
* Pomo, Eastern
* Pomo, Northern
* Powhatan
* Purisimeño
* Quiripi-Naugatuck-Unquachog
* Salinan
* Shasta
* Shinnecock
* Siuslaw
* Susquehannock
* Takelma
* Tillamook
* Tonkawa
* Tsetsaut
* Tunica
* Tutelo
* Twana
* Upper Umpqua
* Ventureño
* Wappo
* Wiyot
* Wyandot
* Yana
* Yaquina
* Yonkalla

U.S. Virgin Islands

* Negerhollands

Mexico

* Chicomuceltec
* Cochimí
* Náhuatl, Classical
* Guaycura
* Náhuatl, Tabasco
* Pame Sur
* Tepecano
* Tubar

Bahamas

* Taino

AFRICA

Angola

* Kwadi

Cameroon

* Duli
* Gey
* Nagumi
* Yeni

Chad

* Horo
* Muskum

Côte d'Ivoire

* Esuma

Democratic Republic of the Congo

* Ngbee

Egypt

* Ancient Egyptian
* Ancient Nubian
* Coptic

Eritrea

* Geez

Ethiopia

* Gafat
* Geez (see Eritrea, above)
* Weyto

Guinea

* Baga Kaloum (see Baga languages)
* Baga Sobané

Kenya

* Elmolo
* Kore
* Omotik

Nigeria

* Ajawa
* Auyokawa
* Basa-Gumna
* Gamo-Ningi
* Kpati
* Kubi
* Mawa
* Teshenawa

South Africa

* //Xegwi
* /Xam
* Seroa

Sudan

* Ancient Nubian
* Baygo
* Berti
* Birked
* Gule
* Homa
* Mittu
* Togoyo
* Torona

Tanzania

* Kw'adza
* Ngasa

Tunisia

* Mediterranean Lingua Franca
* Punic
* Sened
* Vandalic

Uganda

* Nyang'i
* Singa

ASIA

China

* Khitan
* Saka
* Tocharian
* Jurchen
* Zhang-Zhung
* Tangut
* Han'er language

Korea

* Goguryeo
* Silla language
* Baekje language
* Old Korean
* Middle Korean
* Modern Korean (not to be confused with Contemporary Korean, Korean spoken now)

Japan

* Old Japanese

Central and Northern Asia

* Scythian languages
* Hunnic
* Khazarian
* Sogdian

Siberia

* Sireniki Eskimo language
* Yugh language

India

* Ahom
* Andamanese languages
o Aka-Bea
o Aka-Bo
o Aka-Cari
o Aka-Jeru
o Aka-Kede
o Aka-Kol
o Aka-Kora
o Akar-Bale
o Oko-Juwoi
* Arwi

Sri Lanka

* Arwi
* Sri Lankan Portuguese
* Kaffir
* Pali

Thailand

* Phi

Near East
Anatolia

* Phrygian
* Trojan
* Anatolian languages
o Carian
o Hittite
o Luwian
o Lycian
o Lydian
o Mysian
o Palaic
* Hattian
* Urartian
* Galatian

Arabia

* Hadhramautic
* Minaean
* Nabatean
* Qatabanian
* Sabaean
* Himyarite language

Caucasus

* Ubykh

Iranian Plateau

* Elamite
* Azari language

Levant

* Ammonite
* Eblaite
* Edomite
* Kassite
* Moabite
* Phoenician
* Ugaritic

Mesopotamia

* Akkadian
* Amorite
* Hurrian
* Kassitic
* Sumerian

EUROPE

Balkans

* Dalmatian
* Liburnian
* Paionian
* Old Church Slavonic
* Eteocretan
* Eteocypriot
* Pelasgian
* Lemnian
* Yevanic (Judeo-Greek)
* Thracian

France

* Gaulish
* Shuadit

Italy

* Elymian
* Etruscan
* Faliscan
* Lepontic
* Ligurian
* Messapian
* Oscan
* Raetian
* Sicanian
* Sicel
* Umbrian
* Venetic
* Volscian

British Isles

* Celtic languages
o Cumbric
o Pictish
* Germanic languages
o Norn
* Romance languages
o Anglo-Norman language
o Auregnais

Northern and Central Europe

* Germanic languages
o Burgundian
o Gothic
o Vandalic
* West Baltic languages
o Sudovian (Yotvingian) language
o Old Prussian language
o Galindan language
* East Baltic languages
o Curonian (Kursh) language
o Selonian language
o Semigallian language
* Slavic languages
o Polabian language
o Knaanic language
o Slovincian

Iberian Peninsula

* Iberian
* Tartessian
* Celtiberian
* Lusitanian
* Mozarabic

CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Central America
Costa Rica

* Chorotega
El Salvador

* Cacaopera

Guatemala

* Chicomuceltec

Nicaragua

* Matagalpa
* Monimbo
* Subtiaba

The Caribbean
Dominica

* Carib, Island

OCEANA

* Minkin
* Yolngu languages
* Pama-Maric languages
* Nyawaygic languages
* Waka-Kabic languages
* Durubalic languages
* Gumbaynggiric languages
* Yuin-Kuric languages
* Wiradhuric languages
* Baagandji languages
* Yotayotic languages
* Kulinic languages
* Ngarinyeric-Yithayithic languages
* Karnic languages
* Wagaya-Warluwaric languages
* Kalkatungic languages
* Arandic languages
* South-West languages
* Muk Thang languages
* Dhuduroa languages
* Kala Lagaw Ya (Mabuiag)
* Muruwari language
* Warumungu languages
* Flinders Island languages
* Barrow Point
* Bandjalang languages
* Pallangahmiddnag languages
* Niuatoputapu
* Tasmanian languages
* Yaralde (Ngarrindjeri)

SOUTH AMERICA

Argentina

* Abipón
* Chané
* Cacán o Het
* All languages of the Charruan family, as Chaná and Güenoa
* Henia-Camiare
* Kunza
* Huarpe languages: Allentiac and Millcayac
* Lule Toconoté

Bolivia

* Canichana
* Cayubaba
* Itene
* Jorá
* Saraveca
* Shinabo

Brazil

* Acroá
* Arara
* Arua
* Guana
* Kaimbé
* Kamakan
* Kamba
* Kambiwá
* Kanoé
* Kapinawá
* Karipuna
* Kariri-Xocó
* Maritsauá
* Nukuini
* Oti
* Otuke
* Pankararé
* Paranawát
* Pataxó-Hãhaãi
* Puri
* Tapeba
* Tingui-Boto
* Truká
* Tukumanféd
* Tupinambá
* Turiwara
* Tuxá
* Tuxinawa
* Uamué
* Umotina
* Wakoná
* Wasu
* Wiraféd
* Xakriabá
* Yabaâna

Chile

* Kakauhua
* Kunza
* Yaghan
Colombia

* Andaqui
* Anserma
* Arma
* Barbacoas
* Cagua
* Chibcha
* Chipiajes
* Coxima
* Coyaima
* Cumeral
* Macaguaje
* Natagaimas
* Omejes
* Pijao
* Ponares
* Runa
* Tama
* Tomedes
* Totoro
* Yahuna
* Rafaelii

Ecuador

* Tetete
Guyana

* Skepi Creole Dutch

Paraguay

* Emok

Peru

* Abishira
* Aguano
* Akano
* Andoa
* Atsahuaca
* Aymara, Classical
* Aushiri
* Caxamarca
* Chavín
* Chimú
* Hibito
* Kauki
* Mochica
* Mouchick
* Nocaman
* Omurano
* Panobo
* Pukara
* Puquina
* Remo
* Sickán
* Sensi
* Yameo

Venezuela

* Baniva
* Baré
* Cumanagoto
* Maipure
* Paraujano
* Tamanaku
* Yavitero

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Of California's 50 Native Languages, none are taught to schoolchildren today.

Learn more HERE.

Hear a man speaking Magate Ki, one of Australia's most endangered native aboriginal languages.