16世纪初,在今天美国的领土上(包括48个相联的州和阿拉斯加与夏威夷),曾经有数百种语言。今天存留下来的只有不到200种,且前途莫测,尽管地理的远隔(例如,阿拉斯加北部因纽特人的情况)或者语言学社团的重要地位(例如,西南部的那伐鹤人的情况)看来有可能使群体免遭语言消亡的厄运。但是,即使是极其有限地被保存下来的各种语言,仍然是人类的巨大财富之一,是宇宙的表现力和深邃智慧的巨大宝藏。历史业已记录在案 At the beginning of the 16th century, there were hundreds of languages ​​in the territory of the United States today, including the 48 associated states and Alaska and Hawaii. Today, less than 200 remain and their future is unpredictable, despite the geographical distance (eg, the Inuit Alaskan northern region) or the linguistic community's important position (eg, Nafta It seems likely that groups will be protected from the doom of language. However, even very limited languages, preserved in all its forms, remain one of the great wealth of mankind and a tremendous treasure of the expressiveness and deep wisdom of the universe. History has been recorded