Society & Culture - 8 July 2006

More than half the world's thousands of languages are in serious trouble and may die out in the next few decades. In most cases the causes are multiple, but in the end the younger generation simply doesn't learn, the middle generation understands but isn't fluent, and only the oldest speakers retain the full richness of the language.

Most of the the reasons are either political or economic- people are often forced by majority speakers to adopt the new language (even where minority speakers were the original population). In other cases the language is felt by speakers to be an impediment to economic success in the larger society. Yet most of the world's people are multilingual, so how can keeping the old language hurt you? Is it because it identifies you with a group held in lower regard by the majority?

How do you feel about societies that try to wipe out minority languages and culture? Is this healthy? Should effort be made to stop this, or reverse it? What if it costs money?

2006-07-08 08:15:38 · 18 answers · asked by diaboloid 2 in Languages

2006-07-08 08:14:59 · 35 answers · asked by Ma Mang 1 in Religion & Spirituality

i asked this once before but it was so late at night and nobody on so asking since more people will reply

2006-07-08 08:14:34 · 15 answers · asked by chapelleseducatedguesser 3 in Other - Society & Culture

2006-07-08 08:13:30 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Society & Culture

2006-07-08 08:12:19 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Etiquette

2006-07-08 08:11:30 · 20 answers · asked by Belle 3 in Other - Society & Culture

What's the deal???

2006-07-08 08:09:35 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

2006-07-08 08:09:04 · 25 answers · asked by mm_sweet93 1 in Religion & Spirituality

2006-07-08 08:08:57 · 37 answers · asked by Jason C 1 in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender

Give me reasons why you say that, please?

2006-07-08 08:08:49 · 45 answers · asked by Freddie de Lange 2 in Religion & Spirituality

He started off cussing like a sailor, now he deleted those questions and wants peace...How long does it take Yahoo to kick these freaks off?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgkwBa_JxrL42LS_la52tcXsy6IX?qid=20060708115304AA8Sjl4

2006-07-08 08:08:25 · 7 answers · asked by bc_munkee 5 in Religion & Spirituality

2006-07-08 08:08:11 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

I'm thinking of babies who die before they can ever commit a sin. What happens if they grow up in Heaven to be total deliquents and start tearing the place up? Can God send them to Hell? Or is it "what happens in Heaven stays in Heaven"?

2006-07-08 08:08:03 · 10 answers · asked by Kenny ♣ 5 in Religion & Spirituality

Why do people even care about religion or God at all? Not a loaded question, please think before answering.

2006-07-08 08:07:49 · 8 answers · asked by Chancer74 1 in Religion & Spirituality

2006-07-08 08:06:38 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

We manage an accredited, registered social investment and development organisation from South Africa. We work on targeted programmes with local Rotary Clubs and the local government, and would like to expand our programmes due to public demand. Would it be beneficial to register (also) in the USA, Australia, Germany, Canada, England or another developed country?

2006-07-08 08:06:12 · 2 answers · asked by MeerKatje 3 in Community Service

Why are you here answering this stupid question when you could be out actually living life?

2006-07-08 08:05:52 · 67 answers · asked by Lusious Leftfoot 1 in Other - Society & Culture

2006-07-08 08:05:32 · 18 answers · asked by sitting bull 1 in Other - Society & Culture

If one little kid hits another, the other will retaliate thinking the first one will stop after getting what he deserved, but the first one hits him harde than the second one hits the first one harder, and unless someone stops it, they will fight to the death, but what if all the other kids take sides, no one puts an end to it, even the parents, teachers, older students, younger students, old people, take sides also?

That is what happens with a war, one country thinks another is doing something wrong, but the second country bombs them back because they think they are right, so all the other countries take sides, and no one gives up, no one lets it go.

think about it, every one would die, the earth would be unoccupied by human life forms, another animal would have a chance to become dominant, they would not preserv our society, they would wreck it and start their own, we would not be remembered, forgotten, like a little piece of dust floating on wind.

is it worth the trouble??

2006-07-08 08:05:17 · 8 answers · asked by newischk 2 in Other - Society & Culture

If you have a look at the spreading of the German language on the whole globe, you will consider that...

Is spreading the right word in this case?
on the globe or at the globe?
Would u write whole globe or just globe?

2006-07-08 08:04:09 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Languages

Why do you feel it is necessary to have royals and to lavish them with such wealth? It seems so to be so anti-egalitarian to me. Please discuss with me why you feel they are still necessary, considering their lack of political authority.

2006-07-08 08:03:39 · 15 answers · asked by rlw 3 in Royalty

Does religious indignation manifest more bad than good? Would an ethically educated athiest or agnostic be likely wage war against members of an opposing viewpoint? Has religion become a substitute for ethics? Do people understand the difference between the two?

2006-07-08 08:03:26 · 21 answers · asked by ghettoliberty 2 in Religion & Spirituality

if you don't believe in god please give me a good reason y not..

2006-07-08 08:03:18 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

I've recently started as charity fundraiser working on the many streets across the UK. Some people are friendly and polite; others are rude and self-absorbed. But, I would like to know what your view is on charity fundraisers - what do you like/hate about them?

2006-07-08 08:03:13 · 9 answers · asked by Kirk B 1 in Etiquette

2006-07-08 08:02:57 · 6 answers · asked by Kenny ♣ 5 in Religion & Spirituality

not just a happy rendering, but a true, vivid look at what the future will REALLY look like.

2006-07-08 08:02:24 · 6 answers · asked by Sam L 1 in Other - Society & Culture

2006-07-08 08:02:11 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

2006-07-08 08:01:49 · 13 answers · asked by LIBRALNOTE 1 in Other - Society & Culture

isn't "blasphemy" the only unforgiveable sin? but what is it?

2006-07-08 08:01:26 · 12 answers · asked by sid 2 in Religion & Spirituality

(still looking for that loophole)

2006-07-08 08:00:49 · 28 answers · asked by Kenny ♣ 5 in Religion & Spirituality