Linguistic diversity, language vitality and the advancement of Linguistics as a science

Abstract The study of linguistic and cognitive strategies for spatial referencing has seen an increase in studies reported in the literature since the 1970s. This research has moved from formulating theories based on a handful of international languages to documenting and analyzing a growing sample of the world’s languages. This paper focuses precisely on the contributions that languages across a diversity of language families, sociocultural contexts, and geographic settings are making to the advancement of research on spatial referencing. A concrete example is illustrated by the Diidxazá language (Juchiteco, Isthmus Zapotec, Otomanguean) whose analysis has propelled significant explorations into spatial referencing in Mesoamerica and beyond. This paper explores the contributions made by Diidxazá and other lesser studied languages to the advancement of semantic typology, spatial referencing and language and cognition studies. This is placed in the context of current trends in the decline of the world’s linguistic diversity. Thus, this paper advocates for a sustained, and, ideally, increased engagement of the sciences in documenting and revitalizing the world’s languages.