Dying languages will remain dead

Linguist Mikael Parkvall asserts that dying languages are unlikely to be revived, challenging the prevailing optimism surrounding endangered tongues. In a commentary piece for Svenska Dagbladet, Parkvall argues that those who promote hope for language revival are often attempting to "smooth over the grief" associated with their extinction.

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Dying languages will remain dead

Parkvall criticizes what he sees as overly optimistic media depictions of language preservation efforts. He points to a recent report in the newspaper DN about the Australian Dyirbal language, which noted that while it has "only a few speakers," "efforts are being made to get a new generation to learn the language." While acknowledging the statement itself is relatively innocuous, Parkvall places it within a pattern of "overly optimistic portrayals" that he finds misleading.

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those who want to awaken hope that it is possible to change are actually just trying to smooth over the grief

His perspective suggests a more pragmatic, albeit somber, view of language endangerment. Parkvall implies that the focus should perhaps be on acknowledging the loss rather than fostering potentially unrealistic hopes for revival. The commentary frames the debate around dying languages as one where sentimentality may overshadow a realistic assessment of the challenges involved in language reclamation.

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efforts are being made to get a new generation to learn the language