The Scots language is in danger of dying out, experts have predicted.
Language-learning app Busuu researchers have named 12 UK and European languages that are at risk of extinction in a bid to encourage the public to keep them alive.
Among the endangered languages are Scots, Welsh and Irish.
Smaller British languages like Cornish, Manx, Guernsey French, and Jersey French are also considered at risk.
Linguists predict around 43% of the world's 6,000 languages could disappear this century.
Belarusian is also classed as ‘Vulnerable’ as despite being spoken by around 4 million people, most Belarusians speak Russian at home.
Swiss German is the most at-risk European language on the list, and is classed as ‘Severely Endangered’.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) uses a ranking system with six levels to determine how at-risk each language is around the world.
This system labels each language as either ‘Safe’, ‘Vulnerable’, ‘Definitely Endangered’, ‘Severely Endangered’, ‘Critically Endangered’ and ‘Extinct’.
Rather than being decided by the number of speakers worldwide, the labels are mostly determined by the ‘intergenerational transmission’ of a language – in other words, by whether older generations pass on the language to younger generations.
Lead Language Expert at Busuu Federico Espinosa said: "Many might be shocked to discover that the more 'famous' regional dialects are dying, but sadly it's unsurprising.
“People no longer choose to live their lives in the same regions as their families – globalisation means people move around and they don't pass on their regional dialect.
“It's great to see that some are committed to preserving their native tongue. The Welsh government have set themselves ambitious targets to double the number of native speakers by 2050. This is a really positive step forward."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
