Kanak language academy

[John Lynch]

>>From Oceania Flash:

NCaledonia-culture-language-indigenous: Kanak writer, politician woman
appointed first Chairman of indigenous Kanak language academy

NOUMEA, February 27 (Oceania Flash) - New Caledonia's government has
officially appointed late last week its Vice-President, Déwé Gorodey, to the
position of Chairman of the newly-created indigenous Kanak language academy.
The cabinet decision follows the inception, late January, by New Caledonia's
legislative assembly, the Congress, of the French territory's first
indigenous Kanak languages Academy.
Also appointed at last Thursday's cabinet meeting is another prominent Kanak
leader, who is also a member of the local government (education): Charles
Washetine.
Both Gorodey (who is also the local government's culture and indigenous
affairs minister) and Washetine have been appointed pursuant to the share (2
of 8 seats) reserved to the executive within the academy.
The main aim of the Kanak languages Academy is to preserve New Caledonia's
rich cultural indigenous heritage of up to 40 indigenous known languages and
dialects.
On the institutional level, the new academy's other task is to "normalise,
promote and develop" New Caledonia's linguistic heritage.
This could prove a challenge, as many of those languages only exist in their
spoken form and very seldom translated into writing, except for 19th century
transcriptions of the Bible by Christian missionaries.
The eight members of the academy are picked up from New Caledonia's main
cultural and traditional clans and confederations.
Last month, Gorodey said she regarded the new institution as a living body.
"This will not be a temple because this is not how I see an academy. On the
contrary, this is a living place where new words will also be taken into
account. In fact, in recent history, many words of French or English origin
have become part of our languages, for instance the French words for 'table'
or 'spoon'. So we will integrate those words because we consider they are a
valuable addition to our languages and cultures", she told reporters last
month.
The Kanak Language Academy (KLA) was a concept introduced back in 1998, as
part of the autonomy Nouméa Accord that were signed by the French
government, as well as pro-French and pro-independence parties.
The pact, which paves the way for a gradual transfer of powers from
metropolitan France to local authorities and a possible referendum on
independence between 2013 and 2018, also gave special recognition, for the
first time, to the indigenous Kanak peoples.
"(Kanak) languages are an essential, but all too often forgotten component
of the world's cultural heritage in so far as they represent not only a
means of communication, but also a unique perspective of the world", New
Caledonia's government said.
New Caledonia's Kanak indigenous languages are mostly classified as being
part of the Austronesian family of human languages.
According to recent population data, it is also estimated that around 60,000
of the some 230,000 inhabitants of New Caledonia speak at least one of these
indigenous languages.

	
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	John Lynch
	Pro-Vice Chancellor (Regional)
	Emalus Campus - USP
	PMB 072
	Port Vila. Vanuatu.
	Phone: +678 22748.  Fax: +678 22633

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