Transcript
AUT Professor of Pacific Studies, Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop, says that it is not so well understood that technology impacts on the quality of family life. She says it is important to stay culturally connected in this day and age.
"There are so many celebrations and it is so important to lift up the language and reconnect to one's cultural roots as we also celebrate 55 years of Samoan Independence."
Then two teams took the stage at the AUT Manukau campus debate to argue for and against the moot question on whether the Samoan language has relevance in today's contemporary society. Father Michael Alipia Endermann, who gave a blessing over the event, says the language is important.
"When you talk using the Samoan language, firstly people will sit up and listen to you. And secondly, people are happy to talk to you. And thirdly you can have your say to other people. And if you speak well, then people will ask whose daughter is or whose son is that? Where do they come from? Who are their family? Where do they go to school?"
Lemoa Henry Fesuluai says that many Asian cultures do well and staunchly maintain their first language.
"How can you say that the Asians don't value [langugage] its valued by the Chinese, Japanese and Korean that own their languages are first, because Koreans and Asians value their first language, and that is why their cultures are thriving. But then here it is all about pakeha ways."
Hoy Neng Wong Soon says that Maori people have similar struggles with language retention, but at times it just comes down to attitudes.
"There is this Maori Samoan Dr Agnes McFarland who works at MIT, nearby the train station and she did her research on the Maori language and she said you are the boss of your own language. Write it down. But if you are ashamed or too lazy to use your own language, then she explained that she was for the language Samoan rather than Maori. (that's right) laughter."
Sonny Natanielu says the Samoan tatau is a different type of language.
"So for everything there is a geneology. So for a tatau, there is a geneology....so geneology is the most important thing to say that you are Samoan. Other things that say you are Samoan are respect, service, care and 'teu le va' or space. These are all the things written on the body."
The winner on the night was the affirmative side which argued that the Samoan language still has much use and value in today's globalised world..