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      Language is a human activity. It has an unlimited variability； in other words,
language is subject to change. Many languages in the world have disappeared or
evolved into other languages over the centuries.
      It is estimated that over 7,000 languages are spoken in the world today. The
number is constantly changing because languages are living and dynamic； people are
learning more about languages every day. Among the thousands of languages spoken
today, only ten have more than 100 million speakers. On the other hand, about 40% of
languages are endangered, with less than 1,000 speakers remaining.
      Many cultures are under threat now due to the fact that their languages are
disappearing. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), a language is considered endangered when “its speakers
cease to use it, use it in fewer and fewer domains, use fewer of its registers and speaking
styles, and/or stop passing it on to the next generation.” When children no longer learn
an endangered language as their primary language, the language is considered extinct.
      Many causes can lead to the death of a language. One culprit of language
extinction is colonization. When an empire rises, it brings with it its own culture and
language. In order to survive, indigenous people have to learn the language of the
colonizers. In the old days, that meant abandoning the mother tongue entirely. In
modern times, it means people have to learn the language of the dominant culture.
      Can languages be saved? The short answer to that question is: Yes, languages can
be saved. Recognizing the value of endangered languages, many linguists and
academics are working to preserve them through the use of modern technology. Mobile
phone applications have been created to facilitate the learning of languages in danger.
This new language learning method, which is especially appealing to younger people,
has proven to be effective.

【題組】21. Which of the following titles best describes the passage?
(A) Dying and Saving of Languages
(B) Use of UNESCO’s Language Policy
(C) Languages and Effects of Colonization
(D) Fighting Back of Endangered Languages