PROTECT IDENTITY AND GUARD OUR MOTHER TONGUE, VASU PLEADS
MINISTER IFEREIMI VASU SAID THE ORIGINS OF OUR LANGUAGE WERE SLOWLY DYING OUT SO HE IS CALLING OUT ON INDIVIDUALS TO STEP UP TO PROTECT IT THROUGH SPEAKING
‘In this modern age society where our young ones are influenced through technology, their mother tongue language is slowing dying out’
In 1999, UNESCO declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day to promote native languages.
The day aims to promote the awareness of linguistic, cultural diversity and multilingualism.
Stressing the need to protect our identity at the World Language Day celebration in Suva yesterday, Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts Ifereimi Vasu, said the right to protect our mother language was conduit for traditional knowledge and cultural heritage.
“In this modern age society where our young ones are influenced through technology, their mother tongue language is slowing dying out,” Mr Vasu said.
“I believe through the power of education it will enable the younger generation to be taught the importance of learning and safeguard their mother tongue.”
Mr Vasu said the origins of our language were slowly dying out. He is calling out individuals to step up to protect it through speaking it.
With the Government’s move to establish the Great Council of Chiefs, Mr Vasu said the identity of culture lay within every decision that was made and the council itself would stand and defend it.
“Languages are of strategic importance for people and the planet,” he said.
Attending the event yesterday, Suva Grammar School student Joji Bilowalu said it gave him an insight into the importance of his native language playing an important part in his identity.
Joji said the event gave him an insight that his mother language was something, he needed to learn before it died out.
“I’m glad that programmes such as this give us students the insight on why we should uphold and learn our mother tongue language,” Joji said. According to the United Nations International Mother Language Day, first proclaimed by UNESCO and later adopted by the UN General Assembly, underscores the role of languages in promoting inclusion and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Multilingual education policies, highlighted in the 2024 theme “Multilingual education – a pillar of learning and intergenerational learning”, are crucial for inclusive education and the preservation of indigenous languages.