The Samoan language, like the languages of other small Pacific island countries, faces threat of loss. Because of increasing demands for English language television, radio, movies and literature, the English language threatens to usurp our Samoan language, in a similar way to which the sea today threatens to usurp Tuvalu. This threat is a threat to our tofi (or inheritance). In Tuvalu, it is a threat to their lands; in Samoa, it is a threat to our language. Today we celebrate independence because we have regained our inheritance or tofi. And the uniqueness of that inheritance is made knowable to the mind and soul of every Samoan through the words chosen to express its essence. UNESCO projects that by the end of this century up to three thousand (3000) languages will be lost. If we lose the uniqueness of our Samoan language we will lose the driving force behind why our Independence leaders fought so hard for our Independence. That is, we should not be strangers, culturally and spiritually, in our own land. If we lose our language, we lose the meaning of why we are here today. It is my parting wish that you return home to your families, churches and villages with a simple yet special message from this Independence celebration. It is this: the Samoan language is God’s gift to us and the best way of saying “Thank You”, is to make the Samoan language our gift to our children. Soifua. Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta’isi Efi
Posted on: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:25:21 +0000
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