the number of languages once spoken in the united states that have gone extinct is approximately 430.
the number of languages once spoken in the united states that have gone extinct is approximately 430.
number of languages once spoken in the united states that have gone extinct?
approximately 430
the most commonly used language in the united states is english (specifically, american english), which is the de facto national language. nonetheless, many other languages are also spoken, or historically have been spoken, in the united states. these include indigenous languages, languages brought to the country by colonists, enslaved people and immigrants from europe, africa and asia. there are also several languages, including creoles and sign languages, that developed in the united states. approximately 430 languages are spoken or signed by the population, of which 176 are indigenous to the area. fifty-two languages formerly spoken in the country's territory are now extinct.
languages of the united states
native culture remains strong in areas with large undisturbed or relocated populations, including traditional government and communal organization of property now legally managed by indian reservations (large reservations are mostly in the west, especially arizona and south dakota). the fate of native culture after contact with europeans is quite varied. for example, taíno culture in u.s. caribbean territories is nearly extinct and like most native american languages, the taíno language is no longer spoken. in contrast the hawaiian language and culture of the native hawaiians has survived in hawaii and mixed with that of immigrants from the mainland u.s. (starting before the 1898 annexation) and to some degree japanese immigrants. it occasionally influences mainstream american culture with notable exports like surfing and hawaiian shirts. most languages native to what is now u.s. territory have gone extinct, and the economic and mainstream cultural dominance of english threatens the surviving ones in most places. the most common native languages include samoan, hawaiian, navajo language, cherokee, sioux, and a spectrum of inuit languages. (see indigenous languages of the americas for a fuller listing, plus chamorro, and carolinian in the pacific territories.) ethnic samoans are a majority in american samoa; chamorro are still the largest ethnic group in guam (though a minority), and along with refaluwasch are smaller minorities in the northern mariana islands.
culture of the united states