Endangered Languages: What Happens When a Language Dies?

“When a language dies, it feels like a library burns down, which can never be rebuilt!”

One of the most recent languages to become extinct was Columbia-Moses. This extinction occurred due to the passing of the last speaker of the language. What if the next language to vanish forever is one that holds centuries of scientific knowledge? Across the world, endangered languages are a rising concern, as with each one that disappears, the story of humanity becomes a little less rich.

Several linguistic services have estimated that nearly one language becomes extinct every two weeks, and by the end of the 21st century, more than 50% of the 7000 global languages may disappear.

In this blog, we will understand why a language becomes extinct, how it affects humanity, and how a professional translation company can help save them.

Why Are Some Languages Endangered?

Although the reasons behind language extinction are quite complex, they often come down to these four:

• Globalization: Widely spoken languages like English, Spanish, and Mandarin are preferred to be spoken over the lesser-known ones. 
• Colonialism: Several historically suppressed countries lost their linguistic identity.
• Migration and Urbanization: Certain young generations are detached from their linguistic roots.
• Government Policies: Several policies do not promote or teach endangered languages in educational institutes.

What Do We Lose When a Language Dies?

The extinction of a language is more than a linguistic loss; it’s centuries, perhaps millennia, of cultural and scientific knowledge gone—never to return!

Cultural and Historical Identity

Every language spoken has a unique perspective of the world, be it with its rituals, idioms, phrases, or songs. For example, Yiddish, one of the languages of the Jews, gave several culture-driven words like “mazel tov” and “chutzpah.” However, over the passing of time, the language is gradually turning into a dying language with less than one million global speakers.

Traditional Knowledge

Many endangered languages, like Sanskrit, hold traditional wisdom. Ancient religious texts written in Sanskrit contain several modern scientific tips on farming, medicinal plants and herbs, and weather patterns. This knowledge was passed down by generations; however, now, Sanskrit closely inching towards extinction would mean the loss of this invaluable knowledge.

Scientific Insight

The Greenlandic or Kalaallisut language, another endangered language, consists of morphological and complex words. A language like this presents a deeper dive into human cognition and linguistic capability. When these languages become extinct, so do some golden opportunities to explore how the human mind processes complex languages.

Community Connection

Language has a deep connection with the community that speaks it. Language is used to bond, joke, argue, grieve, and celebrate. With the loss of language, a kind of identity rupture happens that can never be healed.

Yes, many languages are endangered, and it is a grave concern; however, in India, some languages are blooming. Want to know which languages these are? Check out this blog: Indian Languages: Top Five Fastest-Growing Languages in 2025!

Can Languages Be Saved?

Yes, they can be—several global organizations, like the Endangered Languages Project and Wikitongues, carry out several awareness campaigns and seminars to gather volunteers to help save dying languages.
 

Furthermore, several linguists and non-profits are taking steps to document endangered languages. For instance, Somya Translators, a professional translation company, often undertakes projects for endangered languages to preserve their identity. 

• Some Hispanic community-led education programs are reviving lesser-known languages like Nahuatl and Ayapaneco.
• New AI tools are being launched to teach endangered languages online. For example, Duolingo, the popular language app, helps its viewers learn diverse languages.

In North America, plans to save over 300 indigenous languages are being unraveled. The idea is to promote and teach the language to the younger generation of Native Americans through grassroots efforts and collaboration with professional linguistic services.

How Can Language Experts Help in Preservation?

Leading linguistic services are increasingly participating in the role of preserving near-extinct languages.

They contribute by:

• Translating cultural documents into various languages to preserve knowledge.
• Offering localization services for lesser-known languages.
• Assisting NGOs and government agencies in boosting language preservation attempts.

One such professional translation company that offers unmatched solutions for several lesser-known languages is Somya Translators. Certified under ISO 17100:2015, we offer top-tier quality and aim to bridge the linguistic and cultural gap for generations to come.

We offer:

• Expert services from native linguists.
• Innovative solutions for 170+ global languages.
• Diverse services like translation, localization, and interpretation.

We strongly believe that every language is a unique window that must not be closed!

Contact us today to get exceptional, result-driven linguistic services.

Transcription Services: A Comparative Analysis Between AI and Manual!

“Who transcribes it better—smart tech or sharp ears?”

Imagine the exhilarating feeling of completing an hour-long podcast with a famous researcher. You can’t wait to share unique industry insights with your audience. But then comes the challenge—you need to transcribe every single word of the podcast. Now you are left with two choices: fire up an AI transcription tool or send it to professional manual transcription services.

In the evolving world of modern transcription solutions, many face the dilemma of jostling between evolving AI and expert humans. So, in this blog, we will explore which transcription route could be more beneficial to you—efficient AI or skilled humans.

Why Are Transcription Services Important?

A professional industry always demands accuracy. Whether it is legal, medical, or even creative fields—having clear written text of spoken versions not only helps in preserving the longevity of the content but also helps in compliance, analysis, and accessibility. Professional Transcription Services do exactly that. Using skilled transcribers, these services convert audio-video text into precise written content. Having a professional transcription service is especially important for content such as

• Podcasts
• Interviews
• Court Proceedings
• Client-Attorney Meetings
• Clinical Trial (Testing)
• Webinars
• Client Meetings
• Academic Lectures

People generally get confused about what type of transcription they should use to derive the most suitable results—AI transcription or manual transcription.

Though both have their pros and cons, one must not keep scratching their head to find the answer. This blog will help with a comparative analysis of both types, and hopefully, by the end, you can get a definitive answer to

“What type of transcription should one choose?”

AI Transcription vs. Manual Transcription

As mentioned earlier, both have unique advantages; making an informed choice depends on your requirements.

Speed: AI Takes the Cake

The AI industry is booming, with speed being one of the most essential driving factors behind the momentous rise of the industry. AI transcription tools such as Trint, Sonix, and Otter.ai, display blistering speed (sometimes in seconds) by using machine learning to recognize speech patterns and convert audio into written text.

AI transcriptions can be used for large-scale transcription projects that usually contain high word counts and tight deadlines. However, these tools won’t work efficiently when they encounter poor audio quality or background noise.

Manual transcription, in contrast, takes significantly longer to provide results. Generally, professional translation companies take up to 5 hours to transcribe an hour of audio recording.

Accuracy and Context: Manual Reigns Supreme

Requiring speedy transcription is sometimes necessary, but having accurate transcription is always vital. This is where manual transcription truly shines. A skilled transcriber can listen to the audio carefully and provide flawlessly accurate results.

Manual transcribers can also address challenges faced by AI transcriptions, such as

• Thick or regional accents.
• Specialized terms and jargon (like in medical transcription services)
• Emotional sentiments in the spoken language.
• Noise and overlapping talk.
• Data privacy and security.

If you feel the need to know more about the challenges in transcription services, check out this blog: Transcription Services: Modern Challenges Require Modern Solutions! 

Other than being perfectly accurate, human transcribers can even customize the written texts—not possible with AI tools.

So, if one wants to transcribe high-stakes audio content like legal proceedings or academic lectures without worrying about slower turnaround time, then manual transcription is the way for them. 

Cost and Scalability: AI, maybe?

While talking about numbers, AI transcription platforms are significantly cheaper—some are even free. However, there’s more to it.

Having low cost and zero manpower may not be enough to satisfy your transcription needs. Some AI-transcribed work may require manual proofreading, especially for culture-sensitive or technical content.

In some cases, manual transcription, a costlier service, is considered a smart investment. This is essentially true for businesses looking for top-tier accuracy, like the one required in medical and legal transcripts.

Wrapping Up

So, as a wrap-up:

Choose AI transcription if

• You need quick transcripts.
• You have clear audio content.
• The deadline is tight.
• 100% accuracy is not necessary.

Choose manual transcription if

• Flawless accuracy is vital.
• Audio files contain noise and overlapping speakers.
• Your content belongs to technical fields such as law or medicine.
• You need additional support, like formatting and timestamping.

However, for those seeking to strike the right balance between precision, speed, and multilingual expertise, Somya Translators stands out as an ideal solution. Certified under ISO 17100:2015 and supported by a global network of skilled transcribers, we are widely reputed for delivering top-tier quality and flawless accuracy. 

What makes us stand out?

• Our extremely skilled multilingual transcribers can offer support in 170+ languages.
• Our flexibility in leveraging translation and transcription tools to balance out time and cost constraints.
• Our commitment to high quality is bolstered by multi-step checks.
• Our extensive expertise in several industries, from legal and medical to finance and software. 

So, brush aside any dilemma you face in deciding among transcription services and choose us, because in a world where words matter, we assist in ensuring how you capture them perfectly.

Feel free to check out our diverse services or reach out to us and get top-notch transcription services!

Website Translation Services: A Gateway to Connect with Global Consumers!

Did you know that almost 71% of small businesses have a full-fledged, functioning website? Even more, almost all global companies work tirelessly on their website content to ensure higher customer engagement and global sales. Websites are more than just a mere tool in this interconnected digital age. It is a portal to connect organically with consumers across the globe. But in this multilingual and diverse sphere, it gets difficult to create personalized user experiences on websites. To tackle this pressing issue, several enterprises have started employing Website Translation Services. These services help businesses translate their websites into languages other than English to create a natural and lasting bond with global consumers. Let’s explore more about this service.

Why Are Website Translation Services Growing in Demand?

Website translation is a cumulative process of changing the language of a website according to the preference of the natives, adjusting the date, time, currency, and other metrics, adapting the font and design, and removing any content that might be deemed offensive in the area.

Companies trying to grow their presence in foreign markets often look for these services as a viable option to facilitate expansion. Also known as Localization Services, they offer creative solutions by providing the expertise of linguistic geniuses. These linguists are thoroughly knowledgeable of the target region, not just the language but also the culture and the local laws. A website that is localized creates trust between a company and its customers and helps businesses ensure a personalized experience for their consumers.

Furthermore, by partnering with a professional localization company, businesses can also expect the following results.

·     Improved Global Revenue and Customer Engagement: Website translation can exponentially boost international revenue and consumer engagement. Studies conclude that 73% of Internet users prefer website content, like product descriptions, instructions, menus, etc., in their native language. This enhanced clarity in communication leads to higher engagement and ultimately increases sales and revenue from different global markets.

·      Boost SEO and Ranking: Translation companies also employ multilingual search engine optimization (SEO) services. In this, the website content is integrated with local keywords. These keywords have higher ranking in the search engines of the area, enabling the website to appear repeatedly during searches. Hence, by applying this service to their websites, businesses can compete seamlessly even in the most competitive markets.

·      Cultural Sensitivity and Legal Compliance: The linguists offered by Localization Services have deep knowledge of the cultural nuances and variations in the laws of the target area. This helps them to translate the website in a manner that reflects both cultural respect and legal compliance, further paving the way for increased organic traffic on the website.

·      Strengthens Brand Identity Across Cultures: Most of the businesses aim to enhance their reputation and brand awareness in foreign lands. A multilingual website is easier to navigate and hence becomes popular among the natives. A translated and localized website also instills a sense of belonging in the customers, making them feel understood by the brand.

·    Supports Multilingual Customer Service: It is essential to provide a satisfying experience for the customer. Multilingual customer service won’t just help a customer to address their query in a preferred language but also boost the website’s review in a positive manner.

Did you know that a flawless translation of an e-commerce website can boost your sales and revenue exponentially? Check out this blog to know more: How Does Translation of an eCommerce Website Help You Sell More Products Online?

Find the Perfect Website Translation Partner!

If you are looking to translate your website in a professional and accurate way, then look no further than Somya Translators. As the leading Professional Translation Company from India, we combine the skills of our world-class linguists with the top-notch resources we possess and provide immaculate and resounding results for our clients.

Feel free to reach out today and check out our distinguished services!