"There is no such thing as an ugly language. Today I hear every language as if it were the only one, and when I hear of one that is dying, it overwhelms me as though it were the death of the earth"

Elias Canetti's quote speaks to the extensive appeal and significance of linguistic variety, stressing the intrinsic value of every language. At its core, the declaration challenges us to move beyond superficial judgments about languages, often rooted in perceptions of social or cultural status, and instead welcome the unique music and meaning each language adds to our collective human experience.

By declaring "there is no such thing as an unsightly language", Canetti dismisses the notion that any language can be lower or unappealing based upon noise or structure. Each language, in his view, encapsulates the history, beliefs, and identities of its speakers, using a distinct lens through which to view the world. In this method, languages are not simply tools for communication but repositories of human wisdom and culture.

When Canetti discusses hearing "every language as if it were the only one", he suggests a gratitude that verges on reverence, recommending that each language holds an unrivaled beauty akin to an unusual piece of art. It invites us to listen to languages with fresh ears, shedding any biases and acknowledging the rhythms and expressions that make each unique. By doing so, we enable ourselves to be enhanced by the diversity of human thought and creativity.

The latter part of the quote, reviewing the psychological effect of a language's extinction as "the death of the earth", stimulates a sense of extensive loss. Languages link people to their ancestors and heritage, and their disappearance signifies not simply the loss of words however a severance from cultural roots and understanding. In Canetti's eyes, a dying language represents a reduced world, similar to the loss of biodiversity, where each extinct language shrinks the huge tapestry of human expression and understanding.

Hence, Canetti's reflection is a vivid call to cherish and maintain the linguistic variety that makes our world vibrant, urging us to secure the languages that shape us, lest we lose them permanently.