Languages are dying at an alarming rate. This has left many people around the world asking the same question： how do we save endangered languages？

语言正以惊人的速度消亡。这让世界各地的许多人不禁问出同一个问题：我们该如何拯救濒危语言？

There are countless ways of answering that question. One way to keep a language alive is by mandating its teaching in schools. This can also be a great way to ensure its continued survival via future generations， but even this isn’t always enough to maintain the vitality of a language. Grammar and vocabulary are only one aspect of a language’s life; living with a language involves so much more.

这个问题有无数的答案。让一门语言保持活力，一种方法是在学校强制教授这门语言。这也是确保其代代延续的好方法，但即便如此通常也不足以保持一门语言的活力。语法和词汇只能体现语言生命力的一个方面，与一门语言共存远不止于此。

Fortunately， there are people around the world finding creative ways to revive endangered languages. Here are some of the most creative ways people are using endangered languages around the world.

好在世界各地的人正在寻求各种创造性方法来复兴濒危语言。以下是世界各地最具创意的濒危语言使用方式。

Using music

利用音乐

Music has documented our history and legends for the entirety of recorded history. It’s no surprise， then， that many people are using music to promote the use of endangered languages.

有历史记载以来，音乐就一直在记录我们的历史和传奇。因此，许多人用音乐来推广使用濒危语言也就不足为奇了。

One example is Garifuna， a language spoken by fewer than 100，000 people in Central America， particularly Honduras.

加利弗那语就是一例，它分布在中美洲（尤其是洪都拉斯），使用者不到10万人。

The interplay of language and music has played a large role in the continued survival of the Garinagu people1. This is partially accomplished by performing traditional songs and dances， like the jankunu， which was created hundreds of years ago to satirize the British colonists. Another important aspect， however， is making new music that attracts attention from people who might not have an existing interest in the language. A genre called punta rock combines traditional Garinagu drumming with a modern sound. Groups like the Garifuna Collective have toured the world to spread the word， literally.

语言和音乐的相互影响对加里那古族群的延续意义重大。这在一定程度上是通过表演传统歌舞来实现的，例如数百年前为讽刺英国殖民者而创作的扬库努舞。而另一种重要方式是创作新歌，吸引原本对加利弗那语不感兴趣的人。一种名为“朋塔摇滚”的音乐风格将传统的加里那古鼓乐和现代音乐融合在一起。像“加利弗那集体”乐队这样的团体在世界各地巡演，实际上就是在传播加利弗那语。

Music alone is probably not enough to keep a language alive， but it’s a fun way to infuse creative energy into the larger goal of preservation. Garifuna is far from the only language that’s being used in music， either. Gaelic， Yiddish and countless other languages are now being performed and recorded， with both traditional and new songs. Whether it’s someone’s specific goal to promote an endangered language or a musician wanting to embrace their roots by singing songs in a language connected to their ancestry， music extends the long cultural history of these languages.

仅靠音乐可能不足以让一门语言保持生命力，但利用音乐是一种有趣的方式，可以为语言保护这一更大的目标注入创造力。