[lg policy] New Zealand: Language policy 'would help Te Reo'

[Harold Schiffman]

Language policy 'would help Te Reo'

Updated at 7:01 pm on 15 August 2014[image: Tweet on Twitter]
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*A language expert says a national language policy, reflecting the
diversity of Aotearoa, would help the revitalisation of Te Reo Rangatira.*
[image: 'Love the language' flags are flying in Wellington / Te
Whanganui-a-Tara]

The Royal Society has also called for a national language policy for
Aotearoa.

Photo: RNZ

Statistics based on the latest Census and subsequent data shows the Asian
population is the fastest growing ethnic group, increasing by almost 50
percent since 2001.

The Royal Society released a paper last year which made the case for a
national language policy, which would take a unified approach to the way
different languages are spoken, used and preserved - reflecting the
cultural diversity of Aotearoa.

Sharon Harvey is the head of the Auckland University of Technology's School
of Language and Culture, and a member of the Royal Society's Social
Sciences and Humanities Advisory Panel.

She said there had been arguments for many years that Te Reo needed to be
in a secure position before looking at learning different languages.

But Ms Harvey said Aotearoa needed to come to grips with its fast growing
diversity.

She believed Te Reo Maori would do much better in a country which dealt
with diversity and bilingualism in a more sophisticated way.

She said the status of Te Reo had suffered because of the emphasis placed
on learning English and did not create a culture which made it easy to
learn another language.

The Royal Society is re-launching the paper in February next year in order
to show politicians how and why a policy would be beneficial for New
Zealand.
Related

   - Fast growth for Maori population
   <http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/252168/fast-growth-for-maori-population>
   - Call for standardised Te Reo in govt documents
   <http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/250851/call-for-standardised-te-reo-in-govt-documents>

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/252257/language-policy-%27would-help-te-reo%27


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