Language

Students and community members argued for and against on whether the Samoan language has any use in today's globalised world.

RNZI reports some spoke about how the increased use of cell phones and social sites like Facebook influence the language, while others talked about the fact the language is what connects people to their culture.

AUT Professor of Pacific Studies, Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop, said that it is not so well understood that technology impacts on the quality of family life.

But the celebrations have reflected an urgency among Tuvaluans who are trying to keep their culture alive and strong, while their small island nation is sinking.

The network was founded in 2013 as a part of an initiative by universities in the Pacific to encourage academic research in the region.

This year as the National University of Samoa hosts, key topics are up for discussion amongst the 12 universities involved in the network.

One of the topics is research conducted by experts in each university uncovering the changes in language in the Pacific, and in each island respectively.

“There are researches done before with evidence that show our language is slowly dying,” said NUS Vice Chancellor Fui Leapai Asofou So’o.

Victoria University of Wellington's Language Learning Centre embarked on a mission to digitise a number of high quality Maori and Samoan cassette tapes from the 1980s and 90s.

The Rays of Sound project includes recordings of Samoan music composed over a 100 year period, and stories about making palusami and the gathering of the palolo.

The Language Learning Centre's senior administrator, Balint Koller, says they wanted to put the audio online so they can remain available for people to listen to in the future.

In a hall in western Sydney - more than 200 people have gathered to tell a story through both words and movement.

This gathering tells the tale of a thriving community raising money for a church back home.

SBS Samoan broadcaster and Pacific historian Ioane Lafoai said the church continued to have a strong influence on Samoan culture both here and in Samoa. 

“Samoans are very religious people. Christians. And where ever they go the Church goes.”