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IELTS Essay Question: Languages in Use
Sample Answer by Jeenn Lee Hsieh
谢振礼 ielts360toefl@hotmail.com
IELTS 论说文真题：20131116 China
>Some languages are increasing in use, while others are declining. Do you think this is a positive or negative development? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience to support your opinion.
谢振礼 Jeenn Lee Hsieh 实验范文：
The loss of languages will harm the cultural diversity of the world; nevertheless, it is a natural process that does not require remedy. There are languages that are at risk of falling out of use as their speakers die out or shift to speaking other languages. Even though this language extinction may be considered as a negative development, little or nothing can be done to save the endangered languages.
The future of all endangered languages is likely to be doomed; and along with that, part of their cultural heritages will disappear as a result of this negative impact. Many linguists predict that at least half of today's 6,000 languages will be dead or dying by the year 2,050. According to estimates, languages are becoming extinct at twice the rate of endangered mammals and four times the rate of endangered birds. If this trend continues, the world of the future could be dominated by a dozen or fewer languages. For that matter, a question may be asked: Nowadays people are aware of the need to protect endangered wildlife animals and plants, but is language diversity as important in its way as biological diversity?
That said, more questions may arise on the upside. Although language extinction is sad for the people involved, why should the rest of the world care? What effect will other people's language loss on the future of people who speak English, Spanish, Chinese Mandarin, for example? Is it not true that replacing a minor language with a more widespread one may seem like a positive development? Would it not be better if only one or two languages dominate the world, allowing people to communicate with each other more easily? Moreover, what can be done to preserve those languages which are declining?
That many languages are disappearing in the world may be a negative development, but is the salvation necessary or possible? On the other hand, a few "lucky" languages such as English is expected to have more speakers than ever. After all, who knows that in the distant future the world would not become a global village with one prevailing tongue. (Essay by Jeenn Lee Hsieh ielts360toefl@hotmail.com pigai zuowen)
