CELEBRATING International Mother Language Day is very important, especially in Fiji where the number of iTaukei language speakers is very small, says Ministry of iTaukei Affairs principal cultural officer of the iTaukei Institute of Language and Culture Simione Sevudredre.
While commemorating the day yesterday, he said there was a need to use and preserve the mother language.
“The number of speakers is very less, therefore, the need to speak and preserve is very important because it’s not only for identity but for values,” he said.
“It’s not necessary for work, but it teaches us values, it also has the knowledge that is very crucial in conserving the environment, particularly in today’s age of climate change.
“For example, if you want to preserve the environment, there are certain words or certain practices in the language; if there is no language we wouldn’t be able to do it.”
He said the day was a wake-up call for Fijians to ensure that the deeper significance of the native language was cherished, recognised, and respected.
“All the languages, they have old wisdom in them and this wisdom teaches us a lot of valuable lessons about how we should behave, how we have to conserve and look after our Mother Nature.
“If you take that away, we are nothing, we don’t know how to behave, we will abuse the land, water, mangroves, and others.”
Assistant Minister for iTaukei Affairs Selai Adimaitoga said the right use of technological advancements would bring about benefits to all.
“It’s important that we unite within our mataqali, clans and different racial groups,” she said.
“We can only do that if we appreciate and learn our mother tongue.”
