Linguists believe that approximately 7,000 languages are spoken worldwide. Yet, because they are not taught as first languages to children, at least half of these languages may become extinct in a few generations. Language endangerment refers to the disappearance of a language and poses a substantial challenge to minority heritage and culture. Language is much more than just a means of communication. It is a cultural heritage vehicle. Many sociolinguistic studies link language endangerment to culture loss, which is defined as "the deterioration of traditional cultural heritage, values, and artefacts." According to India's Ministry of Education's Plan for the Conservation and Maintenance of Endangered Languages, 117 Indian languages are "endangered." More than a third (43) of these 117 are from North-East India.