Linguistic and cultural homogenization in the face of global change, a subarctic example

Abstract

Human cultures have always evolved in response to internal and externalinfluences. There are numerous documented languages that have come andgone. However, languages and their associated cultures are being lost at anever-increasing rate in recent generations. Of the estimated 6,000 languagescurrently spoken globally, it has been predicted that 50 % of these will be nolonger used by the end of 2100 (UNESCO (2012) Atlas of the world’s languagesin danger. UNESCO. http://www.unesco.org/culture/languages-atlas.Data.Accessed Mar 2012). Languages that have evolved in specific biomes oftenembody a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the local ecosystems andgive rich expression to patterns of life that have been closely connected to theseenvironments. Although the reasons for the demise of smaller localized culturesare complex, the forces of global economics and industrialization that oftenimpose massive landscape-level environmental changes along with social, cultural, and linguistic expectations are one major influence. Subarctic cultures inCanada have experienced major cultural change due in part to extensive hydroelectricdevelopment throughout their homelands.