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A modern language is any human language that is currently in use as a native language. The term is used in language education to distinguish between languages which are used for day-to-day communication (such as French and German) and dead classical languages such as Latin and Classical Chinese, which are studied for their cultural and linguistic value.[citation needed]SIL Ethnologue defines a living language as "one that has at least one speaker for whom it is their first language" (see also Language § Linguistic diversity).
Teaching
Modern languages are taught extensively around the world; see second language acquisition. English is taught as a second or foreign language in many countries; see English language learning and teaching.
Auxiliary languages
International auxiliary languages are by definition not associated with a particular country or geographic region. Esperanto is probably the best-known and most widespread. Interlingua, a much less popular, but still growing auxiliary language, is likewise spoken mainly in Northern and Eastern Europe and in South America, with substantial numbers of speakers in Central Europe, Ukraine, and Russia. Constructed languages from more recent years with sizable user communities are Klingon, Toki Pona and Interslavic.
See also
- Modern Language Association
- Endangered language
- List of languages by total number of speakers
This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Modern language news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2010 Learn how and when to remove this message A modern language is any human language that is currently in use as a native language The term is used in language education to distinguish between languages which are used for day to day communication such as French and German and dead classical languages such as Latin and Classical Chinese which are studied for their cultural and linguistic value citation needed SIL Ethnologue defines a living language as one that has at least one speaker for whom it is their first language see also Language Linguistic diversity TeachingThis section is an excerpt from Language education by region edit Practices in language education vary significantly by region Firstly the languages being learned differ in the United States Spanish is the most popular language to be learned whereas the most popular languages to be learned in Australia are German French Italian and Mandarin Chinese Also teaching methods tend to differ by region Language immersion is popular in some European countries and not used very much in the United States Modern languages are taught extensively around the world see second language acquisition English is taught as a second or foreign language in many countries see English language learning and teaching Auxiliary languagesInternational auxiliary languages are by definition not associated with a particular country or geographic region Esperanto is probably the best known and most widespread Interlingua a much less popular but still growing auxiliary language is likewise spoken mainly in Northern and Eastern Europe and in South America with substantial numbers of speakers in Central Europe Ukraine and Russia Constructed languages from more recent years with sizable user communities are Klingon Toki Pona and Interslavic See alsoModern Language Association Endangered language List of languages by total number of speakers
