English B2 FCE

There are 6,500 (0) SPOKEN languages on planet earth and that is just taking (1) ............ account the spoken languages in this day and age, not the ones that are currently extinct. If we look back across time, we (2) ............ encounter an endless list of languages and dialects. Having said that, what is most concerning is that there are many minority languages in places such as Wales and even Spain that are at risk (3) ............ dying out. This is because over 2000 of these said minority languages have fewer (4) ............ 1000 speakers living today and are in a sense, dead languages as they do not evolve in the way that modern languages do. What many of you might be saying to yourselves is; what is the point (5) ............ keeping these languages “alive”? A language is one of the most complex art (6) ............ that exist. It encapsulates the whole culture, history and background of a people and compiles it into a useful working entity that is (7) ............ evolving with its use. If we lose a minority language, in reality what we are (8) ............ is history. And that is a sad day for humanity.