Is the Basque language an endangered languge?

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Is the Basque Language an Endangered Language

A language is a repository of the riches of highly specialised cultural experiences . When a language is lost , all of us lose the knowledge contained in that language 's words and grammar , knowledge that can never be recovered if the language has not been studied or recorded . Not all of this knowledge is of immediate practical benefit , of course , but all of it is vital in teaching us different ways of thinking about life , of approaching our day-to-day

existence on planet earth (Daniel L Everett From Threatened Languages to Threatened Lives , Online Article , 2007

According to the Unesco Red Book on Endangered Languages , there are 13 languages that were once spoken in Europe that are now extinct 9 languages that are almost extinct 26 languages that are seriously endangered , and 38 that are in danger . This last list includes the Basque language (Unesco Red Book on Endangered Languages , Online document , 1999

Due to an increasing concern amongst linguists regarding ethnolinguistic groups , in-depth research , and a number of studies , have been undertaken to explain the extinction of languages , the reasons why certain languages become endangered , and how to ensure that languages are not lost in the future . The results of these studies signify several representing factors that explain why languages become endangered

One aspect is due to the fact that often a people group , or language group , moves towards another language because of increased earning and power opportunities (Daniel L . Everett , Online Article 2007 , something that is putting several European languages under threat (Unesco Red Book on Endangered Languages , Online document , 1999 . And another is when there are so few people speaking the language that it becomes impossible to continue with its usage (SIL International Endangered Language Groups , Online Article , 2007 . Or , as was the case with the Basque language , it can be partly due to the prohibition of its usage . But these are not the only dictating factors existing social political , economic and religious factors , all play their part

This will be looking at Euskera , which is the name of the Basque language a language that dates as far back as the 7th century and which is considered to be under threat

An Historical Overlook of Euskera

Since the beginning of mankind , new languages have been continually emerging , while others disappear forever and while the loss of a language may not seem to be of great importance , according to professional linguists `each loss is a great tragedy (Daniel L Everett From Threatened Languages to Threatened Lives , Online Article , 2007

Euskera , the Basque language , is spoken by approximately 890 ,000 people in Northern Spain , and 80 ,000 , mostly elderly people in the South-West of the Pyrenees in the South of France (Unesco Red Book on Endangered Languages , Online document , 1999

However , although the Basque Community shares the same language , it is comprised of three Basque areas , which are governed by different political and administrative bodies : Iparraldea , which belongs to...