Languages aren’t just words; they’re entire worlds of history, identity, and culture. But like species, languages can go extinct. In Otherwords’ latest episode, host Erica Brozovsky, Ph.D., explores the different stages of language death—and whether some can be revived.

From Latin’s persistence as a dead language to the incredible revival of Hebrew, this episode dives into the forces that threaten linguistic diversity, including language shift, suppression, and even catastrophic loss. But there’s hope! Some languages, like Cornish and Manx, have defied extinction thanks to dedicated revitalization efforts.

Why does this matter? Because every lost language takes unique knowledge, traditions, and perspectives with it. Watch the full episode to learn why language loss is happening at an alarming rate—and what can be done to preserve these invaluable pieces of human history.