Top 5 Rarest Languages in the World | (FAQs, Updated)

Does Kaixana sound new to you? How about Njerep? These are some of the rarest languages in the world. This article will explain the top 5 rarest languages in the world, their origin, and many more.

What makes a Language Rare?

A rare language has no speakers left, particularly if no living descendants exist. Modern languages are sometimes used to refer to languages with living native speakers in contrast to dead languages, particularly in educational contexts.

The National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) defines a “rare language” as lacking a nationally recognized exam.

Why Learn a New Language?

Knowing more than one language in a competitive employment market can give you an edge. Businesses are becoming increasingly intertwined with the international economy.

As a result, many are exploring opportunities abroad and expanding into regions where fluency in a second language is advantageous and essential.

Learning a second language not only improves your employment and promotion prospects but also broadens your understanding of the world and its inhabitants.

On the other hand, meeting fascinating new people is a great benefit of studying a foreign culture.

People can learn a lot about themselves by immersing themselves in the culture of another. Gaining self-assurance by learning a new language is a great benefit of studying abroad.

Learning a new language exposes us to new people and ways of life, allowing us to grow as individuals and strengthen our ability to adapt.

Learning a new language is a great way to broaden your horizons and interact with individuals and communities where you’ll need to adapt your behavior.

Top 5 Rarest Languages in the World To Learn

1. Kaixana:

Because there is just one speaker left today, Kaixana is the top among the rarest languages in the world to learn. Kaixana has never been a very popular substance. It used to have 200 speakers, though.

In recent years, however, that number has been reduced to a single digit. It isn’t easy to learn because so little is known about the vernacular.

Kaixana is a language spoken in Brazil. Raimundo Avelino, 78, of Limoeiro, Japura municipality, Amazonas state, was claimed to be the lone surviving speaker in 2008.

With only one speaker left today, it is the world’s most endangered language. Kaixana is on the verge of extinction. It is incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to learn that language.

2. Njerep:

According to Wikipedia, Njerep (Njerup) is a Mambiloid language spoken in Cameroon’s Adamawa Region. Njerep is essentially extinct, with only four native speakers.

Njerep is classified as a critically endangered language by UNESCO. According to research conducted in 2000, this language is now spoken by only six people, all of whom live in the Somié village on the Nigeria-Cameroon border.

More so, Njerep is one of the rarest languages in the world.

3. Paakantyi:

According to Wikipedia, Paakantyi, also spelled Paakantji, Barkindji, Barkandji, and Baagandji, and colloquially referred to as the Darling language, is a nearly extinct Australian Aboriginal language spoken along the Darling River in New South Wales, from present-day Bourke to Wentworth and including much of the backcountry around the Paroo River and Broken Hill.

Few people currently speak this Australian Aboriginal language, which can be found near the Darling River’s eastern shore.

There are between 22 and 2 individuals who are capable of speaking Paakyanti, according to various reports—but it is difficult to argue that this language is on the verge of extinction.

For this reason, numerous schools have begun efforts to reintroduce Paakantyi to a new generation to avoid this fate. Notwithstanding, Paakantyi is one of the rarest languages in the world.

Read more: Top 10+ Hardest & Easiest PhDs to get

4. Sarcee:

According to Wikipedia, the Tsuutina language (formerly Sarcee or Sarsi) is spoken by the Tsuutina Nation, whose reservation and hamlet are located near Calgary, Alberta.

It is a member of the Athabaskan language family, including the southern Navajo and Chiricahua and the northern Dene Suline and Tch. Sarsi, linked to the Navajo language found in the southern United States, is spoken by the Tsuu T’ina people in Canada.

As one of the rarest languages in the world, due to the culture’s predominance of oral transmission and tradition, no written records are available. With just about 50 speakers remaining, Sarsi is on the verge of extinction.

5. Chemehuevi:

According to Wikipedia, Chemehuevi is a Colorado River Numic language belonging to the Uto-Aztecan language family’s Numic linguistic branch.

John P. Harrington and Carobeth Laird originally transcribed it in the early twentieth century. It was examined in the 1970s by linguist Margaret L. Press, whose field notes and substantial sound recordings remain available.

As one of the rarest languages in the world, the language is currently on the verge of extinction; linguists Greg Anderson and K. David Harrison interviewed and filmed one of the last three remaining speakers during the production of Ironbound Films’ 2008 American documentary film The Linguists.

Chemehuevi, a Colorado River Numic language, is on the verge of extinction and is presently spoken by only a few people in the Midwest of the United States.

The language, which linguist Margaret L. Press has thoroughly studied, has been maintained in the form of field notes and recordings but is still on the verge of extinction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Rarest Languages in the World

What is the oldest language?

Tamil

What is the hardest language to learn?

Mandarin Chinese

Can you forget a language as a child?

Children at this age are at risk of forgetting their original language if they are separated from their peers and the community in which it is spoken.

At what age is it late to learn a language?

One’s capacity for picking up a new language, at least linguistically, peaks at about age 18 and then steadily declines thereafter. Learning, however, should begin before age 10 to achieve total fluency.

Conclusion:

Culture is the most personal construct of civilization. It identifies and manages the members of a community. Language is by far the most important aspect of culture.

Although we do know certain ancient dialects, determining the first human language is impossible. Additionally, we can determine which language is the least frequently used.

However, languages die out as well, even if they were previously prominent. Latin is an excellent example, as it was once a powerful language but has since lost all native speakers.

More so, within a century, experts believe that half of the world’s languages would perish.

Awesome one; I hope this article answers your question.

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Paschal Uchechukwu
Paschal Uchechukwu

Paschal Uchechukwu Christain is a professional and passionate SEO writer on Education, including homeschool, college tips, high school, and travel tips.

He has been writing articles for over 5 years. He is the Chief Content Officer at School & Travel.

Paschal Uchechukwu Christain holds a degree in Computer Science from a reputable institution. Also, he is passionate about helping people get access to online money-making opportunities.

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