Critically Endangered
Ge'ez
Ethiopia & Eritrea
Liturgical use only — no native speakers remain
ሰላም ለዓለም
"Peace to the world" — a Ge'ez liturgical greeting
Endangered Languages
Some voices are one generation from silence.
TIKTACS documents endangered African languages before they disappear — preserving pronunciation, meaning, and living memory so no tongue is ever lost to time.
Continental Language Grid
Voices we are preserving
Each of these languages carries centuries of memory. Press listen to hear a sample phrase spoken aloud, and help us keep it alive.
Critically Endangered
N|uu
South Africa (Kalahari)
Fewer than 10 fluent speakers left
ǂHȍa
A traditional click-language greeting
Critically Endangered
Ongota
Southern Ethiopia
Around 12 elderly speakers
Ongota fied
"Ongota word" — one of the last recorded phrases
Possibly Extinct
Bikya
Cameroon
Believed to have no living speakers
—
Only fragments survive in archival recordings
Endangered
Laala
Senegal
Fewer than 1,500 speakers, mostly elders
Njëkk jamm
"Peace be with you" — a Laala greeting
The Geography of Silence
Where these voices still live
Each pin marks a language on the edge of disappearing. Hover or tap a point to see where it is still spoken today.
Become a Memory Keeper
Help preserve a language before it goes silent
Share an audio recording, a translation, or knowledge passed down to you. Every contribution is archived and credited to your family or community.