- Political power: The language spoken by the ruling class or government often becomes the dominant language, as it is used in official documents, schools, and media.
- Economic factors: The language that is used in business and trade is often more advantageous to learn, leading to its increased use and prominence.
- Cultural factors: Languages that are associated with a culture that is perceived to be more prestigious or desirable may attract more speakers.
- Demographics: The birth rates and immigration patterns of different language communities can also affect which language becomes dominant.
In some cases, when languages do not come into direct competition, they may influence and change each other to create new languages, known as "creoles." Each language situation is unique, and the factors that determine which language survives are complex and varied.