Informational (nonfiction), 1,425 words, Level X (Grade 5), Lexile 1090L
Linguists predict that by 2100, half of all the languages in the world will be extinct. Through colonization and domination, indigenous languages have a history of being eradicated alongside their rich culture and tradition. Vanishing Languages details this history while looking at present-day efforts to revive endangered languages. Students will be asked to consider the importance of preserving language and culture and the global implications of its loss. The book can also be used to teach students how to make inferences and draw conclusions and to effectively ask and answer questions.