Global distribution and drivers of language extinction risk

摘要: Many of the world's languages face serious risk extinction. Efforts to prevent this cultural loss are severely constrained by a poor understanding geo- graphical patterns and drivers extinction risk. We quantify global distribution language risk—represented small range speaker population sizes rapid declines in number speakers—and identify underlying environmental socioeconomic drivers. show that both associated with declinesinspeakernumbers,causing25%ofexistinglanguagestobethreatened based on criteria used for species. Language tropical arctic regions, particularly areas high rainfall, topographic heterogeneity and/or rapidly growing human populations. By contrast, recent have mainly occurred at latitudes strongly linked economic growth. Threatened numerous tropics, Himalayas northwestern North America. These results indicate small-population remaining eco- nomically developed regions seriously threatened continued declines. However, risks future losses especially tro- pics Himalayas, as these harbour many undergoing