Google Endangered Languages Project Seeks To Save Forgotten Tongues (VIDEO)

Though more than 7,000 languages are spoken throughout the world today, researchers believe half of those will fade over the next century.

To combat that gloomy prospect, Google's official blog announced the launch of its Endangered Language Project Thursday.

According to the website, the project is an online resource to record, access, and share samples of and research on endangered languages, as well as to share advice and best practices for those working to document or strengthen languages.

While Google led the development of the site, a number of organizations will take the lead in compiling the 3,000 languages at risk of becoming extinct, notes Sci Tech Today.

Of course, Google is no stranger to foreign language, with Google Translate is offered in 57 languages and search offered in more than 40, according to Engadget.

The Globe and Mail reports that the idea first came about two years ago when a group of users approached Google for support in kicking off an endangered-language preservation project they were running on YouTube.

Check out the YouTube video of Google's Endangered Language Project above.