Language and Culture Loss in the Pacific - Cook Islands Maori - Language PDF

Language and Culture Loss in the Pacific - Case Study: Cook Island Maori Introduction to the Issue 1. Quote to Start: “One indigenous language dies every two weeks.” – Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary- General. 2. Statistics: Cook Island Maori: 13,620 speakers (out of 16,579 total pop...

Language and Culture Loss in the Pacific - Case Study: Cook Island Maori Introduction to the Issue 1. Quote to Start: “One indigenous language dies every two weeks.” – Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary- General. 2. Statistics: Cook Island Maori: 13,620 speakers (out of 16,579 total population). This number is decreasing rapidly. 3. Definition of Culture: Culture encompasses both external aspects (food, fashion, language) and deeper elements like societal interaction and thinking. 4. Language Endangerment: Over 2,600 languages are endangered (43%), spoken by just 12% of the world’s population. 577 languages are critically endangered. Of the 6,000 languages spoken on Earth right now, 3,000 aren't spoken by the children. In one generation, we're going to halve our cultural diversity How and Where Are Cultures Dying? 1. Factors Contributing to Language and Culture Loss: Old Age: The last speakers pass away. Wars/Genocide: Destruction of communities. Non-forced Abandonment: The most common cause, where younger generations abandon their languages for better opportunities (work, education, join loved ones). / if parents stop teaching their mother tongue to their children, if schools don’t teach it. 2. Endangered Cultures: A culture is endangered when only older generations practice it, and it is not being passed on to children. 3. Impact of Language Loss: Loss of language erodes cultural identity, leading to broader societal effects. The World's 10 Dominant Cultures : Establishing the 10 dominant world cultures is difficult, because the factors which determine culture are contentious and difficult to measure. 1. Food (world influence), 2. Fashion (world influence) 3. Music (world influence) 4. Language (world influence) 5. Institutions (world influence) Which languages are doing the killing ? In terms of the number of countries in which there are spoken : 1- English = 75 2- French 3- Arabic 4- Spanish In terms of 1st and 2nd language speakers = 1- Chinese 2- Spanish 3- English 4- Hindi Cook Islands: Geography, History, and Culture Geography and Population: Located in the Pacific Ocean, the Cook Islands consist of 15 islands spread across a vast area of 2 million square kilometers of ocean. The population is about 16,579, and it is steadily decreasing. These islands are divided into two main groups: Southern Group: Includes the main island, Rarotonga, which is the economic and political hub. Northern Group: More remote and less populated. Languages: There are 8 languages spoken, with two official ones: Cook Island Maori: Spoken by around 13,000 people. English: Spoken by approximately 680 people as a first language, and 17,000 as a second language. In addition, there are 6 non-official languages with 400 to 2,500 speakers each. History: British Colony: The Cook Islands became a British colony in 1888. Annexation by New Zealand: They were annexed by New Zealand in 1901. Self-Governance: The Cook Islands became self-governing in 1965, maintaining a “free association” with New Zealand. Citizenship: Today, Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens who can live and work in New Zealand. Cultural Changes and Challenges: Many families in the Cook Islands have stopped speaking Cook Island Maori at home, and English has become dominant in public life. Key Public Figures (politicians, media personalities) predominantly speak English, as do most newspapers. Role Models: Many young people in the Cook Islands look up to those in New Zealand due to perceived better opportunities and lifestyle choices. Economic and Social Factors: Push Factors: The economy is stagnating, with high food import prices and limited job opportunities driving many to leave. Lack of Education: The absence of post-secondary education options in the Cook Islands also contributes to migration. Political and Social Issues: Political corruption, claustrophobia, and boredom also push people to leave the islands. Migration and Communication: More than 1,000 Cook Islanders leave the islands every year. The Cook Islands have a unique one-way free-mobility agreement with New Zealand, allowing citizens to live and work freely in both countries.  Cultural and Linguistic Recession: Economic push factors like the lack of jobs, high food prices, and economic stagnation contribute to a decrease in the use of Cook Island Maori. The migration of young adults to New Zealand, seeking better work or education, results in further weakening of the language and culture. Why is Cook Island Maori Endangered? 1. Push and Pull Factors: Push Factors: Economic difficulties (stagnant economy, job scarcity), lack of education, political corruption. Pull Factors: The desire for better jobs, education, and lifestyle in New Zealand (NZ). Influence of NZ’s culture and language, particularly in media and role models. 2. Geographic Isolation: The Cook Islands consist of 15 islands scattered over 2 million km² of ocean, making communication and cultural exchange difficult. 3. Internal Competition: Economic challenges and limited resources cause people to migrate, further reducing the use of Cook Island Maori. 4. Influence of NZ: Many Cook Islanders migrate to NZ, where English dominates, and Maori is less emphasized. Solutions to Preserve Cook Island Maori 1. Cultural and Educational Measures: Increase Maori language teaching: More teachers, resources, and teaching time in schools.  Promote Cook Island culture in NZ: Teach Cook Island culture to children in NZ to preserve ties to their heritage. Encourage parents to teach Cook Island Maori at home: Parents should be persuaded to speak Maori at home to keep the language alive. 2. Support from Role Models: Public Figures: High-profile government and media figures should be required to speak Maori, showing its importance. Media Influence: A percentage of media content, especially for children, should be in Cook Island Maori. 3. Community and Government Support: Subsidize Books in Cook Island Maori: Support publishing books in the language. Create Competitions: Encourage language competitions (writing, speaking, and translation contests) to make learning fun and competitive. 4. Policy Measures: Bilingual Signs: Official public signs should include both Maori and English. Employment Regulations: Foreign workers in the Cook Islands should learn Cook Island Maori before being granted work visas. Encourage Job Creation: Foster more local employment opportunities to reduce the need for migration.