Language is essentially a collection of symbols that humans use to classify and explain the world around them. The tone of voice and speed at which a human speaks can alter the meaning of the words they are saying in the same way that the body language that someone has can change the way they are perceived. Globally, the way that societies communicate varies massively due to the different lifestyles and cultures that people have; however, the world is considered by many to be more homogenised than ever so the language we use may follow suit.

Some languages are said to be extinct because they are rarely, if ever used and new forms of communication have taken their place. Every day, texts are sent, phones ring and emails are received as modern technology has enabled humans to access each other so freely from anywhere in the world; methods such as letter writing and even face to face conversation are becoming less prominent. But what does this mean for the future?

As it stands, there are approximately 6,500 languages in the world but many of these are dialects spoken by minority groups and the amount of commonly known languages is becoming fewer and fewer. Generally, most people speak one of nine languages with Mandarin, Spanish and English being the top three that are known. However, the rate at which languages are going extinct now is profound and the internet is playing a major role in this process.

The lingua franca of the online world is English, therefore many people are adopting this form of communication and leaving their old ways behind in order to access more opportunities. This could lead to erasure of tradition because language is essential to culture surviving and being understood (Sapir-Whorf); without the language, a cultural hegemony may occur as people become more and more connected.