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Ainu Language: Another Lost Language
The Ainu language is one of the world’s most critically endangered languages, and one of the most unique
Once spoken across Hokkaido and parts of Russia, the Ainu language now teeters on the edge of extinction. With very few fluent speakers remaining and most knowledge passed down through elders or reconstructed by scholars, Ainu is one of the world’s most critically endangered—and culturally distinct—languages.
In this edition, we explore what makes Ainu so unique, and why its preservation is vital to Indigenous identity and global linguistic diversity.
Featured Article
Ainu Language: Why It Was Almost Lost Forever
How Many Extinct Languages Are We Losing Each Year?
The Ainu language is one of the world’s most critically endangered languages, and one of the most unique.
Spoken by the Indigenous Ainu people of northern Japan, it carries centuries of cultural memory, spiritual tradition, and ecological wisdom. But with fewer than 15 fluent speakers left, the language is on the brink of extinction.
If you want to understand even more about this hidden endangered language from Japan, we uncover why saving this language matters.
What to Do When Progress Feels Slow
Every language learner hits a wall—the intermediate plateau. You know the basics, but fluency still feels out of reach. Here’s how to break through it:
1. Level Up Your Input
Ditch beginner materials. Start watching TV shows, listening to podcasts, or reading articles meant for native speakers (with subtitles or a dictionary on hand).
2. Speak Before You’re Ready
Don’t wait for perfection. Practice with native speakers on apps like HelloTalk, Tandem, or through online tutors. Make mistakes—they're part of progress.
3. Set Micro-Goals
Swap vague goals like “get better at Spanish” for clear ones like “learn 20 travel phrases” or “hold a 3-minute conversation.”
4. Review Smarter, Not Longer
Use spaced repetition tools (like Anki or Quizlet) to lock in vocabulary without endless drilling.
5. Reconnect With Your ‘Why’
Are you learning to travel, connect with family, or understand another culture? Revisit your motivation to stay inspired.
Language Learning Tip
Avoid memorising Ainu words in isolation. Instead, connect them to the stories, rituals, and natural world that give the language its meaning. For example, rather than just learning kamuy (god/spirit), use it in a context like:
“Kamuy ceppesuy wa yuk apep”
(We thank the spirits before hunting deer.)
Why it matters:
Ainu is rooted in oral tradition—phrases, chants, and songs are key to understanding.
You’ll retain more when vocabulary is linked to cultural context and storytelling.
It helps you honour the language’s worldview, where humans, animals, and nature are linguistically treated with equal respect.
Did You Know?
The Ainu language doesn’t use a written script of its own—it was traditionally passed down entirely through oral storytelling, chants (yukar), and ritual songs.
This oral tradition wasn’t just about communication—it was a sacred act of preserving knowledge, mythology, and communal memory. Learning Ainu isn’t just learning words—it’s stepping into a world where language is performance, ceremony, and connection to the natural world.
As revitalisation efforts grow, understanding this oral heritage is key to respecting and preserving the full depth of Ainu identity.
