par la porte derrière

Only two people on Earth are known to speak the Ayapanec language, Manuel Segovia and Isidro Velasquez, old men of few words who are somewhat indifferent to each other’s company.

When Segovia and Velasquez pass away, their language also will go to the grave. It will mark the demise of a unique way of describing the lush landscape of southern Mexico and thinking about the world.

Ayapanec isn’t alone in its vulnerability. Some linguists say that languages are disappearing at the rate of two a month. Half of the world’s remaining 7,000 or so languages may be gone by the end of this century, pushed into disuse by English, Spanish and other dominating languages.

Most Native American languages have and/or are dying out very quickly. I know far more French, Italian and Spanish than I do Cayuga, Mohawk or Cree… despite growing up on Indian Reserves. Sad truth is sad.

(via androphilia)