Many languages have come and gone over the centuries, leaving behind traces of culture, history, and identity.
Some of these languages have been replaced by more dominant tongues due to political, social, or cultural shifts.
Here are a few notable languages that have gone extinct, along with their history and legacy:
1. Latin
Latin stopped being spoken as a native language between the 6th and 9th centuries CE after the fall of the Roman Empire. It evolved into Romance languages like Spanish, French, and Italian. Although no longer spoken, it remains important in law, science, and the Catholic Church.
2. Old Prussian
Spoken in the Baltic region until the 18th century, Old Prussian declined due to Germanic influences and German colonization. It was a Baltic language related to Lithuanian and Latvian. It’s no longer spoken but remains important for understanding Baltic language history.
2. Akkadian
Akkadian was spoken until the 1st century CE when it was replaced by Aramaic. It was the language of ancient Assyria and Babylon, using the cuneiform script. Akkadian influenced Semitic languages like Hebrew and Arabic and is crucial for studying Mesopotamian culture.
3. Dalmatian
Spoken along the Dalmatian coast until the last native speaker died in 1898, Dalmatian was overtaken by Italian and Croatian. It evolved from Latin and represents the last remnants of Romance languages in the Balkans.
4. Bo
Spoken on the Andaman Islands, Bo went extinct after the last speaker, Boa Sr, died in 2010. It was part of the Great Andamanese language family and is important for understanding linguistic diversity in the region.
5. Coptic
Coptic ceased to be a spoken language by the 17th century but is still used in religious contexts by the Coptic Orthodox Church. It evolved from ancient Egyptian and remains important for Egypt’s Christian heritage.
6. Manx
Spoken on the Isle of Man until 1974, Manx was revived after its last native speaker passed away. It’s a Celtic language related to Irish and Scottish Gaelic, now being taught and promoted through education and cultural initiatives.
