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Tahitian language threatened

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14 messages over 2 pages: 1
alang
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Canada
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 Message 9 of 14
29 May 2014 at 1:25am | IP Logged 

Please stay on topic and avoid arguments, as deviated posts can be taken out of context.

I will personally learn French, as I found a French based program to learn Tahitian.
Short course, as it is only 25 lessons. It makes, sense due to English based programs are
less likely. If Dunwoody Press could release a reader with audio, it would help.

I am looking forward to the suggestions from the instructor of Teango.
2 persons have voted this message useful



morinkhuur
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Germany
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 Message 10 of 14
29 May 2014 at 1:51am | IP Logged 
ScottScheule wrote:
morinkhuur wrote:

The "language of love" (or rather "the language of colonialism" for Polynesians) already has about 338 million
speakers and is in no way threatened. It doesn't need more speakers. That's not to say people shouldn't be learning
French, but they should not cast aside their own languages, especially if they're in such a critical condition.


Really? So, let's say I'm a Tahitian. I think about it, and I decide, you know what, I don't really like Tahitian. It's not
very useful to me, and I just don't dig it. I really like French. I'm going to speak that from now on.

You're saying I've done something morally wrong?


No, I'm not saying that.

If you were a Tahitian, you'd have every right to do that, if you wanted to. It would be a regrettable
choice though.

But that's not what's happening anyways. People don't just stop speaking their language because they want to, they
decide not to speak it to their children because they think it would be useless to them, which results in the next
generation not learning the language.

I don't think "morally wrong" is the right category to use here. "Sad for all of humanity" would be more accurate.

My point is that this is not a small matter, and not a question of switching to the language that you "dig" or that's
"more charming", but rather a very concerning development brought about by globalization and political or
economic reasons, that we should be aware of. I'm not sure whether we can actually stop this process at this point
and it's not about forcing people to stay the way they are either, but we ought to realize what we are losing and
think about ways to minimize the damage.

Edited by morinkhuur on 29 May 2014 at 1:52am

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ScottScheule
Diglot
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Studies: Latin, Hungarian, Biblical Hebrew, Old English, Russian, Swedish, German, Italian, French

 
 Message 11 of 14
29 May 2014 at 3:56pm | IP Logged 
morinkhuur wrote:

No, I'm not saying that.

If you were a Tahitian, you'd have every right to do that, if you wanted to. It would be a regrettable choice though.


Don't change the topic. No one denied that Tahitians have the right to do that. Of course they do. The issue is whether or not they "should." Saying one "should" or "should not" is saying it's right or wrong to do something--making a moral judgment. You said one shouldn't abandon their language. Since you don't seem willing to defend that statement, I can only presume you didn't or don't mean it.

"But that's not what's happening anyways. People don't just stop speaking their language because they want to, they decide not to speak it to their children because they think it would be useless to them, which results in the next generation not learning the language."

I'm a Tahitian, I decide I don't want my children to learn the Tahitian language, French is more useful to them in my view, so I just teach them French. Again, you're saying I shouldn't do this?
1 person has voted this message useful



Serpent
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 Message 12 of 14
29 May 2014 at 4:51pm | IP Logged 
HTLAL is not a good place for dictionary-fighting. "should" can mean different things even for native speakers, and even more so for non-natives, no matter how advanced.

Feel free to pick any wording you like, for example "it's better if they don't do this".

Anyway, the real problem is the things that lead to this perception, as well as the fact that it's not an informed choice. Growing up bilingual has tons of benefits, and most supposed disadvantages are overrated. It's similar to first generation Americans teaching their children only English. How many of them do it out of love for the language?
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morinkhuur
Triglot
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Germany
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 Message 13 of 14
29 May 2014 at 6:33pm | IP Logged 
ScottScheule wrote:

Don't change the topic.

I didn't.

ScottScheule wrote:

Saying one "should" or "should not" is saying it's right or wrong to do something--making a moral judgment.

It could also mean that doing a certain thing would be more beneficial than the other and that is what I meant. I
don't understand why you're so hung up on it being a moral judgment or not. That's beside the point.

ScottScheule wrote:

You said one shouldn't abandon their language. Since you don't seem willing to defend that statement, I can only
presume you didn't or don't mean it.

I did mean that and I stand by it. Now what are you trying to tell me?

ScottScheule wrote:

I'm a Tahitian, I decide I don't want my children to learn the Tahitian language, French is more useful to them in my
view, so I just teach them French. Again, you're saying I shouldn't do this?

Yes. What is your point?
1 person has voted this message useful



Teango
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Speaks: English*, German, Russian
Studies: Hawaiian, French, Toki Pona

 
 Message 14 of 14
29 May 2014 at 11:33pm | IP Logged 
Come on people...less paio and more aloha!

alang wrote:
I have read up on how close Tahitian is to Hawaiian and Maori.

Me too...it's fascinating just how close these Polynesian languages are to each other in terms of lexical similarity.





Edited by Teango on 29 May 2014 at 11:35pm



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