Meaning of linguistic diversity (what is it, concept and definition)

What is linguistic diversity:

The linguistic diversity is the coexistence of a multiplicity of languages within a given geographical area.

As such, the concept of linguistic diversity is used to refer to situations of coexistence of a group of communities that speak different languages ​​and that share certain regions or territories. Hence, linguistic diversity also implies that conditions exist that favor and facilitate the preservation and mutual respect of coexisting languages.

In this sense, the regions of the world that are characterized by greater linguistic diversity are those that are more isolated, and that have been populated, throughout the centuries, by small human groups that did not impose their language on others.

For their part, the least linguistically diverse regions of the planet are those that have been shaped as political and territorial units for centuries, or that have been subjected to colonization processes, or have suffered a strong cultural influence from a foreign power, among other things.

In this sense, New Guinea is the region with the greatest linguistic diversity in the world, while the European continent is characterized by being the least diverse.

The case of the American continent, meanwhile, is intermediate. The existence of a large number of indigenous languages, mainly in the territories of the southwest of Mexico and Guatemala, as well as in the Amazon jungle, and which includes countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia, gives America, still, a situation of linguistic diversity that, however, due to globalization and the cultural weight of Spanish and Portuguese, threatens to diminish over the centuries.

Most of the languages ​​spoken in the world are distributed between the Asian and African continents, with 32% each; followed by the Pacific area with 18%, America with 15%, and Europe, with only 3% of all spoken languages, although, nevertheless, they include four of the most widely spoken languages ​​and spread around the world (Spanish, English, Russian and French).

Currently, there are more than 6,000 languages ​​in the world, however, more than 50% of them are in danger of disappearing in the coming decades.

Linguistic diversity and cultural diversity

The linguistic diversity fosters situations of cultural diversity, ie, places where linguistic communities of different cultures are able to live together and interact. As a consequence, an enriching intercultural dialogue is generated, an awareness of respect towards the different other, and the opportunity to learn to live harmoniously, with respect for the different cultural identities, traditions and religions that characterize each culture.