Mission

The twelve languages selected by Lost Worlds Institute (LWI) are native languages distinct for their lack of connection to the dominant tongues of the modern day. They have all faced similar fates in their decline. Intergenerational disruption—issues in transmitting a language to the younger generations—have destroyed languages such as Chamicuro and Warlpiri. Population decline and fragmentation have left Wampanoag, Cherokee, and Serrano with few, fluent living speakers. And colonialism, a forceful process of expansion and control, has washed away the distinct identities of all of these cultures; colonial powers forced bilingualism through coercive efforts, making languages such as English, Spanish, and French more dominant than any native one.

LWI aims to bring a young generation of thinkers and speakers to the forefront of ameliorating these issues; we want to preserve these endangered languages for all of posterity, and revive extinct ones by combining scholarly insight with youth-led initiatives. A lost language is a lost world, a people erased from the tablet of history. LWI’s mission is to fight to ensure that these languages do not die off.

"The Lost Worlds Institute is set on connecting students with scholars to promote revitalization, awareness, and education about the beauty of extinct languages. Through youth led initiatives, we at the institute aim to preserve extinct languages in a measurable way: through conversation, documentation, research, resources, etc. Students are the most critical factor in all of this.”

— Siddharth Chopra, Founder and President

Our Values

Uncovering Unheard Voices

Inter-generational Empowerment

Cultural Justice

LWI is a youth-led non-profit that is set on preserving endangered languages and revitalizing extinct ones through scholarly documentation, research, writing, and more.

Contact

contact@lostworldsinstitute.org