How to Kill a Language by Sophia Smith Galer is an impassioned investigation into the hidden global crisis of language extinction. Drawing from personal experience—losing the Italian dialët spoken by her Nonna—award-winning journalist Smith Galer travels across continents to document this unprecedented mass extinction event where half of the world’s 7000 languages are projected to disappear by the end of this century.

This book serves as a vital report from the disappearing world, meeting those experiencing language loss firsthand while also highlighting campaigners and linguists working to secure a multilingual future.

• Investigates the causes of language death, including war, climate breakdown, migration, nationalism, and neglect.
• Reports from diverse global locations including Ghana, Greece, Ecuador, Oman, California, and the UK.
• Authored by award-winning journalist Sophia Smith Galer.
• Presents a call to action to preserve the world's languages and the knowledge they sustain.

• Author: Smith Galer, Sophia
• Binding: Hardcover
• Color: Four-color
• Language: English
• Weight: 510g
• Dimensions: 159x30x240mm
• Release Date: 2026-05-07

This essential reference work offers a moving and persuasive look at cultural inheritance and linguistic survival, urging readers to engage with the languages of our world before they are lost forever.