The web, a multilingual encyclopedia Part 9

What are the causes of language endangerment and disappearance? "A language disappears when its speakers disappear or when they s.h.i.+ft to speaking another language -- most often, a larger language used by a more powerful group. Languages are threatened by external forces such as military, economic, religious, cultural or educational subjugation, or by internal forces such as a community's negative att.i.tude towards its own language. Today, increased migration and rapid urbanization often bring along the loss of traditional ways of life and a strong pressure to speak a dominant language that is -- or is perceived to be -- necessary for full civic partic.i.p.ation and economic advancement."