Preserving Endangered Languages is More Important Than Spreading Major Language

My opponent has brought up some very good points, though I am going to dissect these points to the best of my ability to further my own cause. ============================= "Generally people simply find it more prudent to adapt the language of the wider culture around them, as it allows expanded opportunities for communication and greater ease in daily living.{1} There is nothing of force involved in this process." My opponent brings up an excellent point on the use of widespread language. However, one needs to note that my topic relates to that of culture, which is in itself useless. ============================= "As an example, take Latin. While it is indeed considered "dead" in the technical sense, as it has no native speakers, many high school and college students study the language extensively. It is still known. Thus I argue that language death does not necessarily imply a complete loss." Latin is also used in Science and Law. Belle's point can actually be considered to further my own, considering the contributions that a language with no native speakers can affect so much. ============================= "Encryption is no longer the complicated problem it once was thanks to computers. Complicated algorithms that were difficult to implement with the technology of the 1940s are incredibly simple given modern processing power. Indeed, the field of military encryption is alive and well." My opponents argument regarding technology can also be enveloped to suit my own purpose; with access to technology that can essentially interpret and translate languages, my opponents point that large languages can provide ease of communication is becoming increasingly null. One can already use software to translate hundreds of languages on the computer, allowing for global text communication. My opponent also seems to think that because of modern day technology, minor languages would be much less important to the military. Any type of knowledge that the military has includes a possibility that it can be used for a useful purpose. ============================= "Language is constantly adapting and changing to suit the purposes of those who use it. To try to preserve it in a freeze frame or prescribe certain changes is to interfere with a finely honed process that really doesn't need our help. There is a whole field of evolutionary linguistics to track and explain the changes." The same can be said about tradition and lifestyle. "Tradition and lifestyle is constantly adapting and changing to suit the purposes of those who use it. To try to preserve it in a freeze frame or prescribe certain changes is to interfere with a finely honed process that really doesn't need out help." Even because of this fact, however, there continues to be Renaissance faires, reenactments, pow-wows, and cosplay events. Also note that none of these events are in a freeze frame, per se. One would be hard pressed to find one of these events that last more than a few days. http://www.cosplay.com... I have not even hinted that I propose to freeze frame languages. Instead, cultural and historic events can play an essential role in getting individuals interested in the language preservation process. However, "Freeze framing" could also be beneficial in a historical context. From poems and legends to proverbs and jokes, documented languages can be useful to decrypt both carvings and paintings alike. The loss of languages is also detrimental to humanity's grasp of biodiversity, as humans transmit much knowledge about the nature and the universe. ============================= Final Points: Around 50 to 90 percent of all languages are at high chances of becoming extinct within a hundred years. http://www.thelancet.com...(01)06332-2/fulltext# In the same link, my central proposal resides. It is unrealistic to expect people to learn full languages, reaping little tangible benefits. Language documentation is a wonderful alternative. There is no way I can provide my opponent with proof that language is an essential part of cultural identity. I also cant provide my opponent with any evidence that clothing is an essential part of cultural identity. This is up to the interpretation. What I can provide however, are examples of people actively engaged in preserving languages. In fact, I estimate that one can find more organizations attempting to preserve endangered languages than I can find organizations attempting to preserve historic clothing. http://www.native-languages.org... http://www.nativelanguages.com... http://www.rosettaproject.org... http://www.uaf.edu... http://www.savenativelanguages.org... http://www.sciencedaily.com...