UNESCO Recognizes Ryukyuan Languages as Endangered

In 2009, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the Ryūkyūan languages of Amami, Hachijo, Kunigami, Miyako, Okinawan, Yaeyama, and Yonaguni as endangered languages in their Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger. This designation was designed to promote “language revitalization because languages constitute intangible heritage culture.” UNESCO estimates that all Ryūkyūan languages face extinction as early as 2050 [Heinrich, 2014].