Language life cycles

Whole languages are disappearing from the face of the Earth permanently, leaving behind far fewer fossils than extinct lifeforms. Since at least the 1990s, the rate of “language death” has been estimated to reach 90% within a century*– that’s the extinction of entire languages. If it is possible for entire languages to die, shouldn’t we also be attentive to the life cycles of individual words within surviving languages?

* source:   Krauss, M. (1992) The world’s languages in crisis, Language, Vol. 68, No. 1, Univ. Alaska, Fairbanks, p. 7

Words that thrive, not just survive

Celebrate our words that have worthily stood the test of time. Love. Life. God. Hope. True.

Let's also be open to rethink language that has died or been tarnished. For instance, had you heard that "born again" was popularized in a racist move in southern USA? I'm wondering about options like "divine reboot", "perfect restart"... Go for it! Imagine, research, discuss. But don't let's settle for things we would never say.