Samoan Language Week

Story

Samoan Language Week will take place from Sunday 25 May – Saturday 31 May.

Manulauti:‘Fafaga fanau i upu ma tala. Tautala i lau gagana’ O le tofa mau a Samoa, a fafaga fanau i upu ma tala e ola a’e ua atamamai i tu ma aga. A tautala pea lava pea i le gagana, o le a fa’apea ona fa’aolaola ai i loto ma agaga o le fanau le tofi o tagata Samoa. Fa’atauanau fanau e tautatala i le gagana, o le a fa’apea ona masani ai ma popoto e tautatala i luma o tagata. O le tele o upu ma tala, o le maoa’e fo’i lea o le ola a’oa’oina ma malosiaga o le tagata.

The 2013 Theme is ‘Feed the children with words and stories. Speak your language’

It is a Samoan position that feeding the children with words and stories is critical to acquiring high proficiency in Samoan literacy. Speaking Samoan constantly in different contexts is considered essential in its maintenance and growth. Samoan, like any language, is mastered through regular use. A large vocabulary in Samoan is necessary for academic success and a strong sense of self.

Samoan Language Week was first promoted by Radio Niu FM as part of a series of Pacific language weeks leading up to Māori Language Week. Since 2007 it has been promoted in schools by the Association for the Teaching of Samoa in Aotearoa, FAGASA Inc , Faalapotopotonga mo le Aoaoina o le Gagana Samoa i Aotearoa. In 2009 FAGASA and the Human Rights Commission partnered with other organisations to extend the week to the wider New Zealand community.

Initial Samoan Language week partners for 2013 are FAGASA, the Human Rights Commission, and the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO. Other partners will be added once they confirm their involvement.

Families, early childhood centres, schools and tertiary education institutions, government departments, city councils, libraries, employers and unions, media, churches and community groups are all encouraged to undertake activities in support of Samoan Language Week. You are invited to register your activity by emailing [email protected] so that it can be published on the website and promoted as part of the week’s activities.

There are over 130,000 Samoan New Zealanders. The Samoan community is the fourth largest ethnic community after NZ Europeans (2,381,000), Māori (565,000), and Chinese (147,000). The Samoan language is the third most commonly spoken language in New Zealand after English and Māori.

Samoan Language Week is an opportunity to celebrate the Samoan language in New Zealand, to recognise the language and culture of Samoan New Zealanders, to build bridges between cultures and to ensure that the language continues to be used widely in New Zealand in the future.