November 26, 2015
Strategy for languages of the heart
Language is being celebrated in Tamaki Makaurau today, any language and every language.
Comet Auckland is launching its Tamaki Makaurau Auckland Languages Strategy at a day long conference at Auckland University’s business school.
The strategy calls for action on towards preserving, teaching and valuing languages.
Comet chief executive Susan Warren says too many New Zealanders think monolingualism or speaking only one language is normal, and English will get them anywhere.
She says that attitude ignores the value of learning languages and maintaining the first languages in which people’s culture and identity is tied up.
"They say that if you speak to someone in a language they understand they will her what you say. If you speak to them in their language, it will reach their hearts. That’s the difference and that’s why we need to recognise people’s first language, and te reo Maori as the frst language of our nation is central, absolutely central," Ms Warren says.
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