Every year several languages die out ielts writing task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Show
Write about the following topic: Every year several languages die out. Some people think that this is not important because life will be easier if there are fewer languages in the world.To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words. Model Answer 1: (Agree) Those who oppose having a few dominating international languages and advocate saving every language in the world form their opinion on the basis that every language represents a unique culture. The death of a language means the end of a culture and tradition of people who use the language. This is a fatal blow to an era and the knowledge derived from the nation. For instance, Ainu in Japan and Yagan in Chile, two languages on the verge of extinction, not only designate two languages but also two unique cultural symbols. However, at least one hundred languages around the world have only a handful of speakers and preserving them is highly improbable. A language lives as long as people speak this language and with the globalisation and mass-migration trend, saving languages from extirpation have become even tougher. A world with fewer languages and no cultural barrier is a better place to live in. Moreover, it enhances global trade and improves the political relations among nations. For instance, research conducted in early 2000, indicates that some Asian countries despite their common cultural aspects are divided by their languages. We cannot expect industrialisation, technological revolution and the world as a common platform if we have severe communication and cultural gaps among nations. For a prosperous future where people understand each other perfectly, we need only a handful of languages spoken by all. To conclude, saving every single language in the world is neither possible nor practical. Let us dream of a world with less cultural and communication barrier with effective communication among all with fewer languages. Model Answer 2: (Disagree) A group of people dream of a unified world with no cultural barrier and a common language spoken by all. They advocate the need for fewer languages, such as English, to bring nations together and to foster global trade and understanding. They, however, forget that a language is not just an accumulation of spoken words but the key to culture. Once a language is lost, the knowledge, literature and tradition expressed using it also get extinct. A language evolves throughout the decades and embodies the culture, way of life, history and wisdom of a group of people. If cultural diversity does not persist, there would be no meaning in learning a new language and no thrill to travel to different parts of the world. A language is like Oxygen for the culture of an area and conduits of human heritage. To preserve the rich and diverse culture of a region, the native language must be protected. Furthermore, the belief that fewer common languages would bring nations together is a risky hypothesis – according to a professor at Yale University. To conclude, with fewer global languages we will suffer the loss of cultural legacy and the strength of cultural diversity. No one is denying having international language for global communication, but not with the cost of global diversity and heritage. Every year several languages die out. Some people think that this is not important because life will be easier if there are fewer languages in the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? Here is a band 8 IELTS essay on this topic submitted by one of our students. Need help with IELTS writing? Get your writing samples corrected by me. Band 8 IELTS essay sampleIn this age of globalization, many people seem to have lost interest in their regional languages. As a result, many languages are dying out especially the native ones. Some people think that it is not important to protect them as life will be easier with fewer languages. I do not agree with this perception and would like to further explain my stand in this essay. I believe language is the fundamental tool to understand the culture, traditions, and thought process of different communities. Language greatly helps in researching useful facts about far-flung places outside the cities. It can have scientific and educational significance. Also, many kinds of literature, songs, and poems are narrated only in local languages. For example, there are many famous pieces of folk music and lyrics written in the regional languages of the northern and southern parts of India. It may not be feasible to learn multiple languages at the same time. However, it has been observed that learning and speaking multiple languages is beneficial to the mind. Psychological studies have proven that multilingual ability is an asset to the cognitive process. It enhances problem solving skills, decision-making ability and exercises our brain activities. Although it is argued that more languages cause confusion and difficulty in conversing, I feel it is a false perception. People can use their mother tongue for conversing with their family and friends and an international language like English for official communication. For example, I live in Mumbai and use Hindi to communicate with my colleagues, friends and strangers but at home I chat in Punjabi which is my mother tongue. I also understand Marathi because it is my state language. My understanding of multiple languages has only benefited me in my professional and personal life. In summary, I suppose attempts should be made to preserve dying languages as much possible. The essence and originality of some artistic, literary and methodical works might disappear and it may no longer be accessible if languages vanish. These advantages overweigh any difficulty that we might encounter because of the existence of multiple languages in the world. Do you have an essay on this topic? Submit it below in the comments for a free band score estimate.
Janice Thompson,
Updated On Nov 03, 2021
Every year several languages die out. Some people think this is not important because life will be easier if there are fewer languages. To what extent do u agree or disagree with this opinion? OutlineEssay TypeOpinion Essay (Agree/Disagree) IntroductionSentences 1, 2 & 3 – Introduce the topic. Sentence 4 – I disagree with the notion of the essay. Body ParagraphsParagraphs 1 – Less language may lead to autonomy and extinction may lead to loss of ancient knowledge. Paragraph 2 – Vocabulary will be limited with a limited number of languages and will affect the development of cognitive abilities. ConclusionSum up and state your opinion. Sample Essay 1Language has always been an integral part of our existence, be it some notes of music or some complicated string of words. There are a great number of languages that have come into existence since time immemorial. Unfortunately, a large section of those languages is losing importance and becoming obsolete due to various reasons. In this essay, I am going to discuss the reason for my disagreement with some people who think having fewer languages can make their life easier. It is impossible for a person to live through ages and know the history of different ancient and modern cultures. As a result, texts, songs, paintings from those past ages are the only sources to appreciate the intellect and events of that time. They even inform of many ingenious features of the ancient civilizations that can be applied even today, for example, the drainage system of the Harappa civilization. If the language of that period is lost, then the importance of the text and the valuable information is also lost to us. Secondly, fewer languages will mean that the country whose language gains global importance or people who are well-versed in it may develop pretentious behaviour. People who are unable to communicate in that language or group of languages will be considered mediocre. For example, English is an international language, and people who are incompetent to interact in English is treated unjustly. So, multiple languages prevent the autonomy of a single or group of languages. Being bilingual or multilingual has its own benefits. Psychological studies have proven that such ability is a strong point to develop our analytical process. It boosts our problem-solving skills, decision-making ability and exercises our brain activities. Finally, if languages continue to fade away, our vocabulary will become limited. No language can survive independently. For instance, global languages like English have been greatly affected by French, Latin, Indian languages like Hindi, German among others. For that reason, if any of these languages become extinct, the words will also lose their context and meaning. Nevertheless, with fewer languages, learners can learn less. When they move to foreign countries, they will be able to communicate with others using those few languages and social interaction will become a piece of cake. Other than this advantage, giving up on languages has no great value. In the end, I would like to state that letting languages die out just to avoid confusion or ease of communication might impede our cultural heritage and limit our means of communication, all the while losing an important part of our past. So, even though our languages may not gain the importance of an international language, we can make an effort to help our language or ancient languages to live among us. Sample Essay 2Possibly, the human race is the only living creature that carries diverse and distinct languages for the purpose of communication. Thevitalmeans of language is to communicateseamlessly. Every nation, community and tribe have their own language, and the formations of these languages have been extremely different than what we see today. If communication is the primary reason to have our own languages, I would agree with the fact that fewer languages are much better for communication. Hence, we must not worry even if certain languages getextinct. I will explain my opinion in the next few paragraphs. Some people argue that a language helps preserving the tradition, history and culture of a group. This is true to some extent, and it is no longer possible to comprehend history when the language does not exist anymore. But the changes in languages and their assessmentcannot beaverted. Even the English language that we use these days is way different from what it was a century ago. Languages undergo a change as people require a better and effortless way of communication. Keeping this in mind, if some modern and rich languages are used across the world, the communication among people would get better. This would decrease the cultural and language barriers that exist in the world. Generally, languages that are getting lost are spoken only by fewer people. Only the uncommon languages that a few people speak are in danger. Most of these languages are spoken by a tribe, and people belonging to such tribes also develop in terms of lifestyle and education; hence, they accept a new language. In certain situations, we must put more priority on the life standards of people instead of just concentrating on the spoken language.Finally, modernization is one natural trend, and humans cannot prevent it. Theprominentlanguages wouldprevail, and they would be used by people quite naturally. The fewer the languages, the more effective and richer they would be. Of course, languages are the core of any community and they hold people together, but if people adopt other languages, even if their cultural ones are on the extinction, it will not make a huge difference. In conclusion, we must accept and foster the diversity of languages because of the tradition and uniqueness. However, we should also accept natural trends of evolution and modernization of the language. We should not worry a lot about the disappearance of languages and should accept as few as possible for better communication. Band 9 Sample EssayAs we progress further into the 21st century, the widespread prevalence of major languages like English is overshadowing the indigenous dialects. Due to the lack of any significant use of such vernaculars outside the communities that they are native to, the threat of extinction faced by these unique tongues, which are notable elements of culture, is amplified. It is commonly believed that this phenomenon is a positive occurrence as it facilitates convenience in the realms of communication. I strongly disagree with this notion, and in the following paragraphs, I will explain and justify my views on the topic. Firstly, we must acknowledge the fact that the native tongue of any community forms the basic identity of the people belonging to that fraternity. Consequently, when conversing with an individual, the subtle peculiarities in their accent can be an indicator of the origins of that person, which might be helpful in various social situations. Furthermore, language is not limited to the words uttered verbally but includes mannerisms and diction as well, which are important in understanding the intrinsic values and attributes of an individual. Additionally, for many people, the most commonly used languages might be entirely alien, and adopting such modes of speech can be quite an ordeal. The act of implementing the jargon and terminologies of an unfamiliar tongue into the routine discourses requires mastery of that language to the highest levels. Such a degree of proficiency may be unattainable for many individuals, thus creating a social handicap also known as the language barrier. Nevertheless, it is understandable that in the grand scheme of things, the protection of every aboriginal language is impractical. However, we must nurture the foundations of our heritage the best we can as a homage to our roots. In conclusion, the disappearance of various native dialects may not seem like a grave issue, but in reality, it is an immense loss to the entire human race. Vocabulary
Meaning: for a very long time Eg: This painting has been in her family for time immemorial.
Meaning: no longer used or needed, usually because something newer and better has replaced it Eg: “I am afraid your writing style will become obsolete in a few years.”
Meaning: clever and inventive, or someone who is smart, clever or original Eg: The scientist came up with many ingenious ways to handle the crisis.
Meaning: having a lot of knowledge about something Eg: The old man is well-versed in twenty different languages.
Meaning: attempting to impress by affecting greater importance or merit than is actually possessed Eg: The actor has become pretentious after winning an award.
Meaning: just acceptable but not good; not good enough Eg: He was a mediocre student.
Meaning: lacking the skills or knowledge to do a job or perform an action correctly or to a satisfactory standard Eg: The carpenter was incompetent to mend the broken window.
Meaning: capacity of a system to make a decision about its actions without the involvement of another system Eg: The autonomy of the ruler ended when he was murdered by a group of revolts.
Meaning: the ability to speak multiple languages or the use of multiple languages Eg: Our professor is multilingual and has taught us some phrases in Latin.
Meaning: something easily done Eg: Walking on the thin rope is a piece of cake for her. More Writing Task 2 Essay Topics
Also check
Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types
IELTS Opinion Essay IELTS Discussion Essay IELTS Problem Solution Essay IELTS Direct Question Essay IELTS Advantage and Disadvantage Essay IELTS Writing Evaluation Online Free
Categories
IELTS Listening
IELTS Reading
IELTS Writing
IELTS Writing Task 1
IELTS Writing Task 2
IELTS Speaking
IELTS Speaking Part 1
IELTS Speaking Part 2
IELTS Speaking Part 3
Other Resources
IELTS Band Score
IELTS Registration
IELTS Practice Tests
IELTS Books
IELTS Preparation Tips
IELTS Vocabulary
IELTS Grammar
IELTS Web Stories
Janice ThompsonSoon after graduating with a Master’s in Literature from Southern Arkansas University, she joined an institute as an English language trainer. She has had innumerous student interactions and has produced a couple of research papers on English language teaching. She soon found that non-native speakers struggled to meet the English language requirements set by foreign universities. It was when she decided to jump ship into IELTS training. From then on, she has been mentoring IELTS aspirants. She joined IELTSMaterial about a year ago, and her contributions have been exceptional. Her essay ideas and vocabulary have taken many students to a band 9.
Explore other Opinion Essays
IELTS Writing Task 2 Argumentative Essay Topic: Excessive Use of Modern Technologies Janet
Sometimes People Think that Young People Should be Encouraged- IELTS Writing Task 2 Janice Thompson
For many People, the Reason they Work Hard is To Earn Money- IELTS Writing Task 2 Janice Thompson
Today‘s Children are Living Under More Pressure- IELTS Writing Task 2 Janice Thompson
View All
Recent Articles
IELTS Writing Task 2 Cause/Solution Essay Topic: Juvenile Delinquency Janet
IELTS Writing Task 2 Discursive Essay Topic: Schools should reward students who show the best academic results Janet
IELTS Writing Task 2 Advantage/Disadvantage Essay Topic: People should be required to do unpaid work helping people in the community Janet
IELTS Writing Task 2 Two Question Essay Topic: Natural Resources Janet
IELTSMaterial Master Program1:1 Live Training with Band 9 Teachers
4.9 (3452 Reviews) Book a Free Demo |
Post your Comments
ENTER NAME
ENTER EMAIL ADDRESS
YOUR COMMENTS
4 Comments
Mehedi
Posted onFeb 10, 2022
It is argued that the annual extinction of many languages is not a problem because having just a few languages leads to a more convenient life. It is disagreed that the convenience of using just a few key languages makes the dying out of less spoken dialects acceptable. This essay will first discuss the importance of language to culture and secondly the fact that learning a few common languages is unrealistic, followed by a reasoned conclusion.
A language is not just a group of spoken words but the key to someone’s culture. Language has evolved over thousands of years to reflect what it means to be from a particular place. For example, the Irish language has one of the widest vocabularies in the world and reflects their tradition of storytelling. Despite this, English has become the first language of the Irish, as many feel it makes it easier to communicate with the world.
By speaking just a couple of languages, such as English and Chinese, you alienate billions of people throughout the world. English may be common, but it is not the ‘lingua franca’ many people think it is and it would take generations for everyone to learn it. Countries like Korea and Vietnam have been trying to adopt English as a second language for a long time, but most of their people still can’t fully grasp it. However, English has been the language of business for a long time and it should be encouraged to help a country become more economically competitive.
To conclude, commonly spoken languages may make life more straightforward, but this should not be at the expense of less prevalent languages, in order to avoid the erosion of culture and the alienation of many countries.
Reply
Janice Thompson
Posted onFeb 10, 2022
Band score: 5.5
Avoid using second person.
Since this is an opinion essay you are supposed to pick a side and support it in both paragraphs.
Task achievement: Both your body paragraphs must support your opinion. Discussing the importance of language to culture is
unnecessary and not relevant to the question asked.
June
Posted onNov 2, 2021
There’s a huge variance of languages on our earth. But due to globalisation some of them become extinct every year. Can this reduction to a decreasing number of different languages bring any disadvantages to our global society?
While I can understand that some people argue that fewer languages will make communication among different cultures easier, there are some critical elements to consider.
Firstly, language is deeply connected to culture. Regional rituals and behaviours are often supported by the language that’s spoken. With the language abating the culture will fade away, too. Thus, people might struggle more with their identity and how to connect to their and their ancestors’ roots, which may lead to personal crisis and psychological problems.
Secondly, a number of languages have created words for things, emotions or situations that do not exist in other languages (e.g. the German word “Ohrwurm”, that means a melody which is stuck in someone’s head). With wiping languages out, these words may get lost forever, while with keeping a variety of languages, even the huge world languages like English or Spanish can learn from the others and incorporate foreign words.
On the contrary, a smaller number of languages might lead to a better understanding between nations and different cultures. If all people spoke the same tongue, there would be fewer misunderstandings and maybe more compassion and a greater solidarity between countries, too. So this could be a way to a more peaceful world society.
To conclude, I would like to point out, that I can see some advantages in reducing the languages spoken in the world to a minimum, because it can make life easier and could even be the key to world peace, but for me personally the disadvantages are more sincere because the diversity of cultures, origins, and personal stories is what makes us human and what makes people grow through learning from each other.
Reply
Janice Thompson
Posted onNov 5, 2021
Band score: 5.5
Be careful when using pronouns like “which” and “that”.
Use “C2” vocabulary