This volume investigates the global crisis of language extinction by cataloging and analyzing the thousands of distinct tongues currently at risk of disappearing due to the pressures of globalization. Christopher Moseley, a recognized expert in linguistic diversity, compiles extensive data to document the status of the world's endangered language stocks. The book provides a structured framework for understanding the geographical and cultural distribution of these languages, arguing that the loss of linguistic diversity represents a significant reduction in human knowledge and heritage.

Experts and linguists frequently cite this work as a foundational reference for the study of global language endangerment. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous resource for researchers and students of sociolinguistics.