World's Most Endangered Language Is Spoken By Only Two People Who Don't Talk To Each Other!

Though there are about 400 languages from all over the world that are in danger of disappearing completely, Zoque-Ayapaneco, an indigenous Mexican language is considered the most likely to become extinct, because the only two people in the world that speak it fluently, do not talk to each other!

And, it's not because they live in different countries, states or even villages - In fact, Manuel Segovia and Isidro Velazquez, both in their 70's, reside within 500 yards of each other, in the village of Ayapa in the Southern Mexican State of Tabasco. They however, refuse to converse because they simply don't have much in common. Segovia is apparently a little 'brusque' in nature whilst Velazquez is described as 'stoic'.

Segovia was at least able to converse in Zoque-Ayapaneco with his brother until he passed away about 12 years ago, and still manages to practice it with his family, especially his son Manuel, who for the last five years has been trying to learn it and hopes to become fluent enough to teach it to the next generation. Velazquez on the other hand, has not been heard conversing in the language with anybody.

The two men say the language used to be widely spoken in the village, but the younger generation shunned it for fear of being laughed at, and it therefore began to die a slow death, as the elders passed away.

Unless the two men get their act together, the only way to ever even hear the language will be to either listen to Manuel's not so fluent depiction or see them talk in a documentary entitled 'Lengua Muerta' (Dead Language) that is being filmed to capture Zoque-Ayapaneco and 364 other indigenous Mexican languages that are in a similar state of demise.

We sure hope Segovia and Velazquez soon find something common to converse about - Maybe the fact that the language is dying and that they should start encouraging and teaching the next generation together?

Resources: beforeitsnews, guardian.co.uk