Pan-Pacific language facing opposition

The head of the Maori Language Commission has called for the development of a pan-Pacific language to stem declining numbers of indigenous Polynesian speakers.

Commission chief executive Haami Piripi said the commission was in discussions with a number of Pacific nations including Hawaii, Rarotonga, Samoa and Niue to develop a language database that would be used to develop a common "Meta-Polynesian" language.

He said the initiative was required to halt the declining use of Polynesian languages driven by the dominance of the English language and high numbers of Pacific peoples settling in other parts of the world.

"There are networks of languages that share a common ancestry, from Fiji across to Tahiti, it is important to chronicle the changes to the language as it spread across the Pacific and to recognise the family of languages that exist."

He said the end result would be a database that would assist in developing greater uniformity among the various languages, driven by a need to ensure Polynesian languages are maintained.

"There is a merge point, the point where the languages merge will get greater and greater until it becomes a language of its own."

Mr Piripi said Auckland was the largest Polynesian city in the world yet English was the only commonly shared language.

"As we move towards convergence we will move towards a means of conversing across all of the languages."

He said the New Zealand and Australian governments had been a driving force in the decline of Polynesian languages and must play a greater role in ensuring their survival.

However, the proposal has been met with scepticism by senior lecturer in Samoan studies at Victoria University Galumalemana Alfred Hunkin.

He said language and culture were intertwined and strong opposition would follow moves for change, especially from another culture.

"When we talk about language loss it is a very emotional issue. Language is about identity and pride and your culture if you have someone who comes along and says 'hey let's use this word', you are going to have some very healthy debate aren't you?"

Mr Hunkin applauded moves to compile a database and protect Pacific languages, but said initiatives to ensure the survival of a native tongue had to be driven from within the community and embraced by those at the grass-roots.

"While there is a similarity between Pacific languages, there is also great uniqueness of vocabulary and words particular to each language, including in spelling."

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said any merger between the various Polynesian languages would happen naturally, if it was to happen.

"I support the attempt to proliferate the languages and to share, but Samoan is Samoan and Maori is Maori."


Hello across the pacific

Maori - kia ora tatou katoa
Rarotongan - Kia orana tatoa katoa toa
Hawaiian - Aloha kakou
Samoan - Talofa tatou
Tongan - Malo e lelei
Niuean - Whakalofa