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Dying Languages, Fading Formats

Posted by michael on from the rosetta-cd-rom dept.

utopyr writes "A story on BBC News looks briefly at the problems in preserving human languages in digital formats. The scope of the problem? Of the world's roughly 6,500 languages (of which, fewer than 500 are listed here), half will be extinct within the century, as the last speakers die. However, formats are proving even more ephemeral than human memory."

7 of 355 comments (clear)

  1. fp for me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    yes this is the fp for me woop wap

  2. QBASIC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I wish QBASIC wasn't a dying language.

  3. AllYourOddsAreBelongToUs: READ this, infidels!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Slashdot Odds Update for 3-20-03:

    Saddam Hussein found in Dick Cheney's bunker 1-5

    Tony Blair marries George W. Bush by Nov. 2004 2-1

    George W. Bush resigns by June 1, 2003 1-5

    Ari Fleischer seeks asylum in Israel 4-5

    Donald Rumsfeld selected to play Dr. Strangelove
    in the remake 2-1

    Bush, Cheney, Powell, and Rumsfeld tried for war crimes 20-1

    Remember, Impeach George W. Bush et al.

  4. Re:Dead Languages Coming to Movie Theater... by easter1916 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Mel Gibson seems to be a bit of nutjob Christian fundamentalist.

  5. Re:This is a bit harsh... by Randolpho · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Modded Flamebait? I conceded a point to the person I was arguing with. That's good debate.

    And I get modded Flamebait?

    Oyvey.

    --
    "Times have not become more violent. They have just become more televised."
    -Marilyn Manson
  6. IN SOVIET RUSSIA... by mythr · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    ..they speak the language we all should be speaking. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

  7. Re:Is this really a big deal? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    You are one dumb fuck. I hate you.