How Apps Are Saving the World’s Disappearing Languages

Imagine opening your phone and finding not just another app, but a doorway into a language that fewer than 100 people still speak.

Around the world, endangered languages are vanishing every two weeks — and with them, centuries of stories, songs, and knowledge. But now, playful apps and community-built tools are giving these voices a second chance, making it possible for anyone, anywhere, to keep them alive.

Languages carry stories, traditions, and ways of seeing the world that can’t be replaced. Yet nearly half of the world’s 7,000 languages are at risk of disappearing by the end of this century.

From playful apps designed for children to community-driven platforms built by native speakers, technology is giving endangered languages new life. These apps aren’t just about learning words. They’re about preserving memory, reconnecting people with their heritage, and making sure fragile traditions continue to be heard.

Discover why endangered languages matter, the challenges of keeping them alive, and the apps helping to protect them for future generations.

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Want to train your brain to think in your target language instead of translating? Try this unique exercise:

Step 1: Pick 5 random objects around you (a spoon, your phone, a plant, etc.).
Step 2: Without speaking, think of their names in your target language. If you don’t know them, look them up.
Step 3: Add one short action or description for each (e.g. “The plant grows,” “The spoon is silver”).

Bonus: Next time, walk through a room or street silently “labelling” everything you see. It turns everyday life into a live immersion session.

Record a short voice note in your target language once a week. Just one or two minutes about what you did today, how you’re feeling, or your plans. Don’t worry about mistakes; the goal is to capture progress.

After a month, listen back. You’ll notice improvements you didn’t see day-to-day. Clearer pronunciation, longer sentences, fewer pauses. It’s one of the fastest ways to hear your growth and stay motivated

Pick a short scene from your favourite film or series. Mute the sound, then dub the dialogue yourself in your target language. Keep it simple: greetings, emotions, or funny improvised lines.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t know the exact words — acting it out makes your brain link emotion + language. You’ll practice speaking with natural rhythm, and it feels more like play than study.

Bonus: Record yourself and share it with a friend who’s learning too — swap “dubbed” clips for laughs and practice.

There’s a language in Mexico called Ayapaneco that was once spoken by an entire town… but for years, the only two fluent speakers refused to talk to each other because of a personal feud.

It took community efforts, and eventually digital projects, to bring the words back into circulation. Imagine an entire world of knowledge depending on whether two neighbours decided to speak.

That’s how fragile languages can be — and how powerful small actions (and even apps) are in keeping them alive.

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If you’ve been enjoying these emails, why not share them with a friend who’s also learning a language?

When 3 friends join through your link, you’ll unlock our Pronunciation Guide — your step-by-step companion to clearer, more confident speech.

And that’s just the beginning…
✨ More rewards are on the way for 5 and 10 referrals — coming soon!

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