Unfortunately, I can’t access these amazing TED things because don’t come with a caption option. If you look here, wow… look at all the languages that got a nod and how many English translations there are for folks like me: zero. How ruuuude. anyone want to help my letter writing bombardment campaign?
Aside from that, I saw the picture you were referring to and I do believe there will be a globalization of language, which means the nuances and smallest (and most beautiful, imo) parts of language will disappear. I am referring to the unspoken parts of language that come from constant and frequent interactions, the silent cultural rules that define a group—that disappears when the flat form, or the most superficial form of the language is used, especially by non-native speakers. They are dangerous in that they know enough about the language to use it fluently, but not enough to use it innately or intuitively. It becomes a very dispassionate and disconnected way to communicate when you’re awkwardly using the surface meaning of a language.
I’m watching the most natural parts of my language slowly disappear right as we speak, and I have seen dialects disappear in my lifetime, so I’m speaking from experience. I know there have to be dialects and manners of usage that have disappeared in the US because of the media and greater mobility between communities. I am fascinated with the connection between language and perception—so I do get upset when dialects and manners of usage disappear because that means an unique linguistic perception, no matter how slight, has also disappeared.
Language is not just the surface meaning, but the community and people that support the most fundamental part of language.
If I’m way off this TED talk, I apologize, but like I said, I can’t access it :D