Busuu was a language native to Cameroon. In 1986, it was reported that only eight speakers remained. UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, classified Busuu as ‘critically endangered.’
Understanding Language Endangerment
UNESCO uses a framework with six degrees of language vitality and endangerment:
- Safe
- Vulnerable
- Definitely Endangered
- Severely Endangered
- Critically Endangered
- Extinct
Factors Influencing Language Status
This framework is based on nine factors, including:
- Absolute number of speakers
- Intergenerational language transmission
- Community members’ attitudes towards their language
- Shifts in domains of language use
- Governmental and institutional language attitudes and policies
- Type and quality of documentation
- Response to new domains and media
- Availability of materials for language education and literacy
- Proportion of speakers within the total population
Key Factor: Intergenerational Language Transmission
Of these factors, intergenerational language transmission is the most critical. For a language to thrive, it must be passed down from one generation to the next. Pride in the language and its continued use within families and communities is essential.
Busuu’s Journey
When Busuu was classified as ‘critically endangered’ in 1986, the youngest speakers were grandparents and older people who only partially and infrequently spoke the language. Today, Busuu is classified as extinct, indicating that no speakers remain.
Global Language Extinction
According to Ethnologue, 348 languages have gone extinct worldwide since 1950, and around 2,895 languages are currently endangered.
Fun Fact
Did you know that the language learning platform ‘Busuu.com’ was named after the Cameroonian language Busuu?
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