Introduction

In this R Notebook, the data, which was gathered from the website of the Kaggle Extinct languages, will be analyzed and visualized. The aim of this R notebook is to provide insight to the reader about the Language endangerment degree in Mexico.

The UNESCO endangerment classification categorizes languages as:

Vulnerable: spoken by most children but may be limited to specific domains (e.g., home). Definitely endangered: no longer learned as a ‘mother tongue’ in the home by children. Severely endangered: spoken by grandparents and older generations; understood by the parent generation but not spoken to children or among themselves. Critically endangered: the youngest speakers are grandparents and older, and they speak the language partially and infrequently. Extinct: no speakers at all.

According to the UNESCO classification, these are the languages in Mexico from “Vulnerable” to “Extinct”:

Mapping languages grouped by Endangerment Degree

cols<-c("brown4","darkgoldenrod3","blue","mediumvioletred","darkolivegreen4")
cols_m1<-cols[factor(lang_data$endangerment_degree)]
map("world", fill=TRUE, col="lightgrey", bg="lightblue", ylim=c(-60, 90), mar=c(0,0,0,0))

points(lang_data$longitude,lang_data$latitude, col=cols_m1, pch=16)
legend(x=-50,y=-30,legend=paste(rep(c("Definitely Endangered","Critically Endangered","Extinct","Severely Endangered","Vulnerable"),times=1)),
                             col=rep(cols,times=1),pch=16,bty="0",cex=0.5,pt.cex=0.7)

Language endangerment degree in Mexico

library(mapdata)

elang_mex<-lang_data%>%filter(country == "Mexico")
cols_m2<-cols[factor(elang_mex$endangerment_degree)]

map("worldHires","Mexico",  col="white", fill=TRUE)
points(elang_mex$longitude, elang_mex$latitude, pch=19, col=cols_m2, cex=0.7) 
legend("topright",legend=paste(rep(c("Definitely Endangered","Critically Endangered","Extinct","Severely Endangered","Vulnerable"),times=1)),
       col=rep(cols,times=1),pch=16,bty="0",cex=0.5,pt.cex=0.7)

Conclusion

In conclusion, visualizing the mapping of language endangerment degrees in Mexico and worldwide, based on the UNESCO classification, holds significant importance. These visualizations provide a comprehensive and accessible representation of the state of various languages, offering insights into the vitality and risks they face. Understanding the distribution of languages across different endangerment categories, from “Vulnerable” to “Extinct,” allows for a nuanced comprehension of linguistic diversity and the potential loss of cultural heritage. For linguists, researchers, policymakers, and communities, this information serves as a valuable resource for formulating informed strategies for language conservation and revitalization. The visual exploration facilitated by RStudio not only enhances our understanding of language dynamics but also contributes to raising awareness about the urgent need for language preservation efforts, making it a crucial tool for those invested in the preservation of linguistic and cultural richness.