Japanese linguist Yuko Otsuka, who has studied the Tongan language for over 30 years, has raised concerns about the increasing dominance of English over Tongan language.
Speaking at a recent seminar at the University of Auckland’s Centre for Pacific Studies, Otsuka warned that the preference for English, driven by economic and social pressures, is threatening the survival of the Tongan language.
Otsuka, who taught in Tonga in the 1990s and now teaches at Sophia University in Japan, noted that faka-Tonga is increasingly being valued behind English, particularly among younger generations in both Tonga and diasporic communities. She emphasized that the ability to speak English is seen as a pathway to economic success, especially for those seeking opportunities in wealthier countries.
“It really saddens me because I love the Tongan language. It’s spoken by only around 100,000 people,” she said, reflecting on the uniqueness of the ‘lea faka-Tonga’.
Tongan linguist Dr Melenaite Taumoefolau, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Arts who is a strong advocate for the revitalisation of Pacific languages both locally in Aotearoa and internationally, said Otsuka’s visit emphasised the value of Pacific languages.
“Professor Otsuka’s visit was a great opportunity to share innovative strategies and explore developments around maintaining and revitalising languages. It was wonderful to see those with a keen interest in Pacific languages come along to her seminar and have the experience of seeing someone outside of our communities recognise the value of our languages, and why their retention is so important,” Taumoefolau said.
Otsuka’s research, going back to 2007, predicted the potential decline of the language. She urged Pacific communities to prioritize the preservation of their native languages, highlighting the vulnerability of other Polynesian languages like Niuean and Tuvaluan, as classified by UNESCO.
Source: PMN
