Like many culturally diverse Australians John Dardaganis speaks a mix of languages with his relatives.
Mr Dardaganis says speaking Greek with his grandmother gives him a connection to her.
He's one of many Australians fighting to keep their cultural heritage and mother tongue languages alive.
Today is International World Mother Tongue Day.
Speaking Greek for John Dardaganis is one way of connecting with his grandmother. Source: SBS News
The United Nations-backed day celebrates language, cultural diversity and multilingualism.
At least 43 per cent of the estimated 6,000 languages spoken in the world are endangered.
They are under threat as cultures mix in an increasingly globalised world.
Mr Dardaganis said its hard to maintain your native language once you move to another country.
"Once you’re in Australia you sort of forget your mother tongue, her English is quite broken, so we’ve kind of met in the middle," he said.
John and his grandmother use their basic understanding of the Greek and English language to communicate.
He said his grandma's language has given him a stronger appreciation of his own Greek heritage.
"It’s a beautiful language and often a lot of things don’t translate, translation of an expression for example, or if you’re religious, a passage in the bible," he said.
Elisabeth Bureau studied English, German, Italian and Spanish at university. Source: SBS News
Only a few hundred out of the world's 6,000 languages have a genuine place in education systems and the digital world, according to the United Nations.
Elisabeth Bureau travelled to Australia from France and now works in a French bakery.
Ms Bureau studied English, German, Italian and Spanish in university.
She said education is essential to keeping languages alive.
"That was one of the reasons why I came here because I wanted to practice all my languages, “she said.
For others Australia's multicultural make up has given them an opportunity to expand their cultural horizons.
Carolina Torres, originally from Columbia, moved to Melbourne 15 years ago to study a degree in architecture.
She said Australia has exposed her to a diverse range of people and cultures.
"It was an interesting experience; you get to see different people from different parts of the world, that something that I don’t see in South America," she said.
Carolina Torres moved to Australia from Colombia 15 years ago. Source: SBS News
She said having to speak a language other than her own was confronting when she came to Australia.
"It took me a while to get into talking to different people and getting to express myself and my ideas," she said.
Ms Torres said she would want her children to appreciate her own langue if she ever had a family.
"I would love to teach my kid how to speak Spanish, to have that understanding of the world," she said.
An appreciation of language diversity is an important lesson in understanding life's differences.
"I enjoy speaking both languages now, and this is the part where I get to speak both languages, because I understand the differences," Ms Torres said.
