Language and Culture Loss in the Pacific

Language and Culture Loss in the Pacific - Cook Island Maori Case Study

• A quote from the UN Secretary-General highlights the rapid decline of indigenous languages ("One indigenous language dies every two weeks").
• Cook Island Maori speakers number 13,620 out of a total population of 16,579, and this number is decreasing.
• Culture encompasses external aspects (like food, fashion, and language) and internal elements (like societal interaction and thinking).
• Over 2,600 languages are endangered globally, representing 43% of all languages and spoken by only 12% of the world's population.
• Of the 6,000 languages spoken worldwide, 3,000 are not spoken by children, indicating a potential loss of diversity in one generation.
• 577 languages are critically endangered.

Factors Contributing to Language and Culture Loss

• Old Age: The loss of last speakers.
• Wars/Genocide: Destruction of communities.
• Non-forced Abandonment: Younger generations abandoning their language for better opportunities (e.g., work, education) or to join loved ones. Parents may also stop teaching their children their mother tongue if schools do not teach it.

Endangered Cultures

• A culture is endangered when only older generations practice it and it is not being passed on to the younger generation.

Impact of Language Loss

• Loss of language erodes cultural identity, impacting societal elements.

World's Dominant Cultures

• Establishing a top 10 list is difficult due to diverse factors that determine culture (e.g., food, fashion, music, language, institutions).

Language Distribution (Worldwide)

• English is spoken in 75 countries.
• Others are listed by number of countries where spoken: French, Arabic and Spanish.
• Chinese is the most frequently used first-language, followed by Spanish and English. Hindi is 4th.

Cook Islands: Geography, History, and Culture

• The Cook Islands consist of 15 islands spread across 2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean.
• The Cook Islands population is approximately 16,579 and is shrinking.
• The islands are divided into two groups: Southern (economic and political hub) and Northern (more remote and less populated).
• Eight languages are spoken, with two official languages being Cook Island Maori (approximately 13,000 speakers) and English (approximately 680 first-language speakers and 17,000 second-language speakers).
• There are six non-official languages with 400-2500 speakers each.
• The Cook Islands were a British colony from 1888 to 1901 when they became self-governing.

Cultural Changes and Challenges in the Cook Islands

• English is becoming the dominant language in public life, replacing Cook Island Maori in many homes.
• Key public figures (politicians, media personalities) primarily speak English.
• Many Cook Islanders look to New Zealand for opportunities and lifestyle choices.

Economic and Social Factors

• The Cook Islands' economy is struggling, with high import prices and limited job opportunities.
• Lack of post-secondary education options also affects cultural preservation.
• Political issues like corruption play a role in driving migration.

Migration and Communication

• Over 1,000 Cook Islanders leave the islands annually.
• A free-mobility agreement with New Zealand allows citizens to live and work in both countries.

Cultural and Linguistic Recession

• Economic hardship and the resulting lack of jobs decreases the use of Cook Island Maori.
• The migration of young adults seeking better opportunities results in weakening the language and culture.

Why Cook Island Maori is Endangered

• Push and Pull Factors: Strong pulls from New Zealand for better job prospects, education, and lifestyles combine with push factors like economic difficulties and lack of opportunities within the islands themselves.
• Geographic Isolation: The spread of 15 sparsely populated islands hinders communication and cultural exchange.
• Internal Competition: Economic challenges and limited local resources cause migration and reduce the use of Cook Island Maori.
• Influence of New Zealand: The dominance of English and the influence of New Zealand culture leads to a reduced emphasis on Cook Island Maori.

Solutions to Preserve Cook Island Maori

• Cultural and Educational Measures: Increasing Maori language teaching with more teachers, resources, and classroom time.
• Promoting Cook Island Culture in NZ: Teaching Cook Island culture to children in NZ to maintain their heritage ties.
• Encouraging use in the Home: Motivating parents to teach Cook Island Maori at home to preserve it.
• Role Models: Public figures and media personalities speaking and promoting Cook Island Maori.
• Media Influence: Increasing the percentage of media content in Cook Island Maori, especially for children.
• Community & Government Support: Subsidizing Cook Island Maori books, encouraging language competitions, and using bilingual signs

This quiz explores the decline of the Cook Island Maori language and the broader issues of language and culture loss globally. You'll learn about the statistics of endangered languages and the contributing factors to their decline. Engage with the critical information on how language shapes cultural identity and what is being lost.