The Endangered Pacific Languages Research Project: Abstract

Abstract

Refereed abstract accepted. Paper pesented but publication delayed due to my medical condition so as yet unplublished Te Whare Kura Symposium Abstract- Mauri Atua – Knowledge . The Endangered Pacific Languages Research Projects. Contact person and chair John McCaffery Recent research by McCaffery and McFall -McCaffery (2010) reviewed much of the currently available data on the present state of Pacific languages in Aotearoa/NZ. This review confirms the findings and predictions of the 2000-2002 Marsden Funded, Languages of Manukau research. All research to date identifies accelerating, significant serious language shift and loss ( Fishman 1991, 2001) among the five main Polynesian languages in NZ, with three ( Cook Is Maori, Vagahau Niue and GaganaTokelau), being in a critical state and facing intergenerational extinction unless urgent measures are taken now. Previous research proposed some possible reasons for these shifts and called for further research to explore measures that could be taken to reverse the situation. The establishment of the TWK Indigenous research Initiative in 2011 provided an opportunity for a cross UoA faculty, cross department research team from Centre for Pacific Studies, School of Languages Faculty of Education, DALSL , Nga Pae o Te Maramatanga, Maori Studies, Psychology Human Sciences and the Library, won three TWK research grants to a) build capacity for Pacific Languages research, b) Investigate in partnership with communities possible solutions to revival and maintenance , and c) bring two international indigenous academic visitors to the UoA to share their experiences and expertise with NZ communities. Of special significance is the Maori- Pacific- knowledge research partnership to first draw on the evidence from NZ Maori ECE Kohanga Reo and Maori Medium education initiatives. This colloquium by the research team presents the rationale for the project, the contributions to the growing Best Evidence indigenous research base to language maintenance and revival, indigenous research approaches involving partnership with Pacific communities, the outcomes and findings from the work and suggestions ways forward that have implications for many indigenous researchers, language minority communities and speakers, governments and policy makers Project Research Team Dr Melenaite Taumoefolau Dr Elaine Ballard John McCaffery Dr Jason Brown Judy Taligalu McFall- McCaffery Dr Joe Te Rito Professor Margaret Mutu Associated Community Research Partners Everdina Fuli – Tokelau community Dr Betty Ickles – Tokelau community Io Aleki- Niue community Lorel Smith- Cook Island community