Editing Endangered language (section)

===Ethical considerations and attitudes===
Generally the accelerated pace of language endangerment is considered to be a problem by linguists and by the speakers. However, some linguists, such as the phonetician [[Peter Ladefoged]], have argued that language death is a natural part of the process of human cultural development, and that languages die because communities stop speaking them for their own reasons. Ladefoged argued that linguists should simply document and describe languages scientifically, but not seek to interfere with the processes of language loss.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ladefoged |first1=Peter |title=Another view of endangered languages |journal=Language |date=1992 |volume=68 |issue=4 |pages=809–811 |doi=10.1353/lan.1992.0013 |jstor=416854|s2cid=144984900 }}</ref> A similar view has been argued at length by linguist [[Salikoko Mufwene]], who sees the cycles of language death and emergence of new languages through [[Creole language|creolization]] as a continuous ongoing process.<ref>Mufwene, Salikoko (2004). "Language birth and death". Annual Review of Anthropology 33: 201–222.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Mufwene |first1=Salikoko S. |title=The Ecology of Language Evolution |date=30 August 2001 |publisher=Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.|doi=10.1017/CBO9780511612862 |isbn=0-511-01934-3}}</ref><ref>Mufwene, Salikoko (2008). Language Evolution: Contact, Competition and Change. Continuum International Publishing Group.</ref>

A majority of linguists do consider that language loss is an ethical problem, as they consider that most communities would prefer to maintain their languages if given a real choice. They also consider it a scientific problem, because language loss on the scale currently taking place will mean that future linguists will only have access to a fraction of the world's linguistic diversity, therefore their picture of what human language is—and can be—will be limited.<ref>Hale, Krauss, Watahomigie, Yamamoto, Craig, & Jeanne 1992</ref><ref>Austin & Sallabank 2011</ref><ref>Nettle & Romaine 2000</ref><ref>Skuttnabb-Kangas 2000</ref><ref>Austin 2009</ref>

Some linguists consider linguistic diversity to be analogous to biological diversity, and compare language endangerment to [[Endangered species|wildlife endangerment]].<ref>Maffi L, ed. 2001. On Biocultural Diversity: Linking Language, Knowledge, and the Environment. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Inst. Press</ref>