I've come across an interesting article which I've
given below that is worth a read. The jist of it
seems to be that by teaching the young, and investing
in resources, in teachers, in schools running their
own programs - the preservation of languages is possible.

There's more at the following:

http://mz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/406971/te-reo-maori-language

Here's the link again:

http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/406971/te-reo-maori-language-at-threat-of-extinction-academics#

Morning Foxy.
No matter what we put in place to conserve language it will always find its own way. If it remains static it will die or cease to be in general use except in some exceptional circumstances maybe. It is the better for this as if it was not so we would still be grunting, howling and making unusual sounds to make ourselves understood. Though a club could be of some assistance to get ones point of view across. Shaggy Dog.

Hi SD,

Yes, we've certainly come a long way and as we've seen
languages have changed and adapted over time. Their
study links us to the past and how people lived and
is well worth doing. Here's a short history of the
old stone age:

http://shorthistory.org/prehistory/language-and-spiritual-culture-in-old-stone-age/

Knowledge of a minority language can be helpful in odd ways.
My eldest son came back to Australia from Ireland where he’d lived from the age of ten.
He was about 22 and first up sought a job.
He applied to a construction firm and when the boss heard his accent he spoke to him in Irish, son replied in the language and he got the job, he says it was probably because the boss could practice his Irish.
The boss was German and had studied Irish Gaelic at Uni in Germany.

Paul,

I see your dementia is still bothering you.

I was talking about Language, not culture which is a difference that most children could see.

The statistics which were discussed on TVNZ ch1 (the equivalent of the ABC here who were talking about preserving the Maori language) are that 15% of the population (750 000) consider themselves of Maori descent about 5% (250 000) can hold a very basic conversation and about 1% (50 000) converse fluently and regularly most of whom are middle-aged to elderly.

Sensible people would trust NZ government statistics over the wishful thinking of a senile old woman.