Languages are crucial to our personal and cultural identity, with over 7,000 languages worldwide and significant linguistic diversity seen in regions like Papua-New Guinea. However, globalization and technological changes, especially the dominance of English, threaten this diversity, with many languages at risk of extinction, potentially leading to a loss of cultural knowledge and heritage.
Student submission by Emma Scherer:
Category: Languages
Description: A street sign in Riga, Latvia. The street is named “Ukrainas Neatkarības iela,” which translates to Ukrainian Independence Street. This street was renamed in 2022 due to Russian aggression in Ukraine, as the Russian embassy is located on this street.
Student submission by Grace Sokolow:
Category: Languages
Description: In Aotearoa (New Zealand), both te reo Māori, the Māori language, and English, the language of Pāheka, white New Zealanders, are commonly used, especially in regards to place names. Road signs at municipal borders, like the ones in Wairewa (Little River) shown here, greet people entering new areas in both te reo and English. In places where the English name is the same as the Māori name, two different signs are still used!