Our native language needs to be protected after the Minister of iTaukei Affairs, Ifereimi Vasu, informed Parliament that some of our native dialects have gone extinct.
While responding to a question by MP, Alipate Tuicolo on the Ministry’s plan to revive and document the native iTaukei dialects in Fiji, Vasu says there are around 300 dialects in the country, but due to the change in times, some of these dialects have gone extinct.
Speaking in iTaukei, the Minister says the change in times has also brought a lot of changes in our dialects, where the meaning has moved on from its original meaning.
He says it has also resulted in the shift and changes in some of our cultures and traditions.
Vasu adds that the Ministry’s Language Department is working closely with other relevant government agencies and departments, universities, language experts and linguistics, and other organizations to put together a plan.
The Minister says his Ministry is conducting training and awareness programs on our language and culture in communities and schools so that our future knows the importance of safeguarding our identity.
He adds they have also documented and developed books that are written in the native language so that it does not go extinct.
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