WE2 UNIT 2 READING

By 2100, over half of the world’s 7,000 languages will probably be extinct. The writing systems in which many languages are written are disappearing, too. (1) _________ so today there are only about 140 different scripts. Sadly, one third of these is in danger of becoming extinct.

• “Scripts are a hugely important aspect of culture,”

• Some ideas are very creative.

• In some countries, modern technology hasn’t helped, either.

• Many of the world’s languages share writing systems,

(2) _____________Some scripts use pictures instead of letters, like the Dongba script used by the Naxi people in China. These scripts can’t easily be used on computers, but this doesn’t mean that they have any less cultural value than other scripts.

• “Scripts are a hugely important aspect of culture,”

• Some ideas are very creative.

• In some countries, modern technology hasn’t helped, either.

• Many of the world’s languages share writing systems,

(3)________ say Martin Raymond and Lorna Evans of ScriptSource, a reference for the world’s writing systems. When a culture loses its writing system, it also loses everything it believed to be important enough to communicate in writing, such as poems, stories, legal documents, and personal letters. Writing is so important that many people feel a strong connection to their written language even if they can’t read it. For example, in the city of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, which is often called the capital of the Cherokee Nation, many of the street signs are written in both English and the Cherokee language. Not many people can read the Cherokee language, but it is a way of remembering the city’s Native American history.

• “Scripts are a hugely important aspect of culture,”

• Some ideas are very creative.

• In some countries, modern technology hasn’t helped, either.

• Many of the world’s languages share writing systems,

There are different ways of saving endangered alphabets. (4) -------- For example, Tim Brookes decided to carve some of the less common scripts from Bangladesh, like Marma and Chakma, to make artwork. Brookes has shown his work in schools, libraries, and universities across the United States and Europe. He hopes to increase people’s interest in saving the world’s uncommon scripts.

• “Scripts are a hugely important aspect of culture,”

• Some ideas are very creative.

• In some countries, modern technology hasn’t helped, either.

• Many of the world’s languages share writing systems,

How many scripts exist today?

• about 140

• about 104

• about 1040

What does the Dongba script use instead of letters?

• numbers

• pictures

• lines

According to the article, where can you find street signs in the Cherokee language?

• in the Cherokee Nation

• in Bangladesh

• in Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Who has used carving to teach people about the problem of writing systems at risk?

• Tim Brookes

• Marma

• Chakma

Where do people write in the languages Marma and Chakma?

• in Bangladesh

• in the Cherokee Nation

• in Oklahoma

In 2100, there will be ___ languages in the world than today.

• more

• fewer