ELL: RE: south pacific language loss rate

[Piripi Walker]

Kia ora Doug

I work with iwi (tribes including my own) and NGO groups here in Aotearoa
NZ, but
for a recent Maori language update in New Zealand (from a Government source)
have a look at The Ministry of Maori Affairs News site:

http://www.tpk.govt.nz/news/default.asp?action=news&id=108

An excerpt from the info at this site:
New Publication launched this week - "The Health of the Maori Language in
2001"

The full report can be viewed (PDF) at the above site.

"Te Puni Kokiri's latest publication "The Health of the Maori Language in
2001", brings together three years of research and shows that te Reo Maori
is no longer in danger of dying, but there is still a lot of work to do.

"The publication was launched in Wellington on Monday by the Minister of
Maori Affairs Parekura Horomia in Wellington. The research shows that a
combination of Maori and Government educational and broadcasting initiatives
has provided a stable platform for the continued growth of Maori language.
For the first time in decades the speaking population has stabilised - not
declined, that there are more enrolments in Maori language programmes and
more Maori speakers are speaking Maori with children.

"Te Puni Kokiri chief executive Leith Comer says that the report provides
valuable information on the current status of the Maori language and also
addresses the challenges that exist for Maori and the Government in
cementing the language for future generations.

"Just over twenty years ago the Maori language was almost classified as a
dying language. It wasn't spoken at home, it wasn't taught widely in our
classrooms and it certainly wasn't heard over the airwaves. This is no
longer the case and thanks to the commitment of Maori based initiatives we
should rightly celebrate that now 25% of the Maori population speak Maori."

"Mr Comer says Te Reo Maori is part of the essence of being Maori and being
Maori is unique to New Zealand. The next challenge for all those involved in
the continued growth of the Maori language is building on the platform that
has been set.

"Together Maori and Government have a role to play in ensuring that the
Maori language continues to be spoken by future generations.

"Some of the report's key recommendations are:

- Promoting Maori language use in home and community settings
- Supporting local level language planning to reflect unique circumstances
at a local and regional level and amongst iwi
- Developing safe environments and support mechanisms to activate 'latent'
Maori language skills amongst Maori adults'

ENDS

The Maori Language Commission has information on the current state of Maori:
http://www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz/

A belated thanks to all who posted recently on the thread re relationship
between the new speakers and the older generations, it was very useful and
insightful. Thanks to Basque friends on the list for the information on
television channels and programming; your posts contained much helpful real
world information. Our Maori channel is set to launch next year, fingers
crossed.

Nga mihi ki nga Eller katoa!

Piripi Walker

Piripi Walker
P.O.Box 37-276
Stokes Valley
Ph 064-4-5636-215, Fax 064- 4-5636-219
Mobile 027-4930-632
email: piripi at reo.co.nz

E, kei whatiwhati noa mai i te rau o te rata.
'Ah, don't pluck the blossom of the rata.' Some things are beautiful as they
are. There is nothing we can do to improve them.
Nga Pepeha o Nga Tupuna VUW Press 2002


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-endangered-languages-l at cleo.murdoch.edu.au
[mailto:owner-endangered-languages-l at cleo.murdoch.edu.au]On Behalf Of
Doug Whalen
Sent: Friday, 18 October 2002 8:37 a.m.
To: endangered-languages-l at carmen.murdoch.edu.au
Subject: ELL: south pacific language loss rate


   Dear listers,
   On behalf of someone not on the list, I would like to ask the following:

is language extinction in the South Pacific on the rise? Is there more
language extinction in 1990 than in 1960 for instance?

Does anyone have the numbers that would tell us?

Thanks, Doug Whalen DhW
--
Doug Whalen (whalen at haskins.yale.edu)
Haskins Laboratories
270 Crown St.
New Haven, CT 06511
203-865-6163, ext. 234
FAX:  203-865-8963
http://www.haskins.yale.edu/
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