The film reflects recent developments within UNESCO where the concept of “Intangible Human Heritage” was established in 1999. 

In much the same way that biological diversity is seen as a vital key to the survival of life on Planet Earth, the need for cultural diversity is becoming more and more recognised throughout the world.

Culture is not just a Gothic cathedral or Leonardo da Vinci´s Mona Lisa. Culture is the way we speak and the way we think.

In the beginning was the Word …

1. Number of languages

• Total Number of Languages world-wide: 6000 – 6500
• Only 8 languages are spoken by 100 million or more people
• 72 languages by 10 million to 99.9 million
• 96% (5,760 languages) are spoken by just 4% of the population.
• 55% are spoken by less than 10,000 people
• 51 languages are spoken by only ONE person

2. Rate of extinction

• Middle of the Road estimates predict the permanent loss of 50% (3000) languages over the next 100 years. 
• 3000 divided by 1200 months = approximately one language every two weeks. From today, not tomorrow! Languages are dying as this film is being made.

3. Why bother?

• Diversity is important, life-sustaining.
• Language as an expression of identity.
• Language as a repository of history: “When you lose your language, you exclude yourself from your past”.
• Languages increase our stock of human wisdom: “The sum of human wisdom is not contained in any one language, and no single language is capable of expressing all forms and degrees of human comprehension”.
• Languages are interesting. Many so-called “primitive” languages can express subtleties that e.g. English cannot. (There are plenty of examples one can offer here)