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How AI and Wikipedia have sent vulnerable languages into a doom spiral
(www.technologyreview.com)
this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2025
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Does it really matter? I think the extreme amount of languages in the world right now is not helping us communicate. I don't view language as a cultural heritage thing, just a communication protocol. And I have moved around a lot in the world, it's very difficult to be constantly adapting to different languages. That causes a societal integration barrier for me.
I think if we had a universal language (note that it wouldn't have to be English) we would be able to understand each other better and have less wars.
PS: I'm not advocating to ban languages or something, just to have a universal one. A bit like what Esperanto tried to achieve. Mutual language means more mutual understanding and thus less "us vs them" underbelly feelings that the fascists thrive on.
Yeah I'm just not really wed to any language. I guess it is also because I have moved around so much. I'm from Holland but I don't consider myself a Dutch person, more like a citizen of the world. I've become too different to fit in in my home country (also because it's become an extreme-right cesspool lately ๐ข ). I've spent about half my life elsewhere. And the places I've lived where I spoke the languages I fared noticeably better.
Don't forget that a lot of today's problems center around not understanding each other. The hatred of immigrants for example.
But I know a lot of people do view language as a cultural thing, it's just my point of view.
Languages have their own quirks and characters, representative of the people's cultural values and history, and express ideas not even present in other cultures. As many languages have to be preserved as possible for these reasons.
Esperanto still exists and there is a worldwide community of speakers.
Oh yes I know but as a common universal language it really has failed. It never became more than a fringe thing (sorry).
It is the most popular one. If somebody wanted to start a competitor, they'd have a hard time.
Language is absolutely political, a product of its specific environment, and there is a lot that can be communicated in one language that would be difficult in another. Erasing languages isn't like no longer manufacturing a specific style of plug, instead it silences viewpoints and enforces the cultural hegemony of the dominant group.
There's a reason fascists are fond of erasing the languages of the marginalized.
Like I said I don't advocate erasing languages. Just to have a common international language whichever it is. Local languages can still play a big role in cultural matters (eg literature and life on the street for locals)
I'm from Holland myself and I know most people there don't care so much about our quirky language, we are happy to speak other ones. It doesn't mean that Dutch is worth any less. Mind that it doesn't have to be English (especially now that the US is rapidly declining as a world power). But whatever it is, I wish the world would just pick one so I don't have to keep learning new languages every time I move.
But failing a global language perhaps AI translators will become so good and smooth to use that soon we can just communicate regardless of what languages we speak.