The Disappearing Languages of India: Why It Matters for Your Child

India is the second most linguistically diverse country globally. A staggering 196 Indian languages are listed as endangered by UNESCO, and over 220 languages have vanished since 1961   . Languages like Toto, Gorum, Mandeali, Bhumij, and Garhwali are either critically endangered or vulnerable  . Beyond mere vocabulary loss, when these languages fade, entire worldviews, ecological wisdom, songs, and rituals vanish too  .

Why This Matters for Your Child—and Future Generations

1. Cultural Identity & Belonging

Each language carries stories, traditions, rhythms, and a worldview unique to its community. When children experience their native language through stories, they’re accessing their heritage’s soul—a powerful anchor in a fast-changing world.

2. Cognitive Benefits of Multilingualism

Research shows bilingual and multilingual children develop enhanced task-switching skills, memory, and mental flexibility   . While some studies challenge universal benefits, long-term advantages such as delayed cognitive decline and dementia are well documented    .

3. India’s Unique Multilingual Edge

India offers a natural advantage: children exposed early to Hindi, English, and their local mother tongue gain cultural fluency and adaptive thinking. This linguistic layering fosters empathy, problem-solving, and social understanding—skills that matter more in today’s globalized world than ever before.

Real-World Threats & Preservation Efforts

Environmental changes are directly threatening linguistic diversity. In Bihar, recurring floods and droughts are disrupting families and eroding language use—children adopt more dominant tongues for survival  .

Yet, hope remains. UNESCO-backed initiatives like the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032), technology-enabled archiving, and AI projects like the Toto–Bengali–English app are countering decline   .

A Parent’s Guide: What You Can Do

1. Speak your mother tongue at home

2. Share folktales & lullabies

3. Encourage storytelling in both languages

4. Use tech tools for heritage languages

5. Celebrate language diversity

   
   

   
   

Final Thought – A Language Shared Is a Legacy Preserved

In India’s vast linguistic mosaic, every language speaks of history, place, and people. By fostering multilingualism—not just for academic gain but for cognitive strength, cultural pride, and emotional belonging—parents gift their children a skill set that lasts a lifetime.

If you’d like support integrating heritage storytelling into your home or classroom, Spin A Yarn India is here to help. Let’s keep these voices alive—one story at a time.