Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week
29 September 2024
Celebrating Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week 29 September - 5 October.
It’s Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week and its theme ‘Taofi mau ki tau ‘gana, mo tou gaugaleo, me ko tou iloga tena’ - Uphold your language and dialect, for it is your identity’ highlights that language is a key part of who we are.
Consisting of six atolls and three reef islands, Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world. Previously named the Ellice Islands until gaining independence in 1978 from Great Britain, Tuvalu’s population sits at just over 11,000. The diaspora are well represented in Aotearoa New Zealand, with approximately 4,600 here. Many reside in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland including Tuvalu’s famous granddaughter – academic and poet Professor Selina Tusitala Marsh, ONZM FRSNZ.
Marsh was the first Pacific person to gain a PhD in English from the University of Auckland, she is also an award-winning poet and writer of Fast Talking PI, and graphic children's memoir Mophead.
I am the proud granddaughter of Vailei Tusitala from Niutao and Funafuti in Tuvalu – it is from him that I got my family name and legacy of Tusitala – storyteller.
She traces the legacy of her name back to her Tuvalu roots from grandfather Vailei Tusitala.
“Talofa, I am the proud granddaughter of Vailei Tusitala from Niutao and Funafuti in Tuvalu, it is from him that I got my family name and legacy of Tusitala - storyteller.”
Tuvaluan is closely related to the Ellicean group spoken in Tuvalu, and is distantly related to all other Polynesian languages, while most closely related to languages spoken in northern and central Micronesia.
It has borrowed considerably from Sāmoan, the language of Christian missionaries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Despite being at the start of her language journey, the A-plus Marsh gained while studying Sāmoan language at the University of Auckland provides a solid foundation for her to explore the Tuvaluan language.
Te Herenga Mātauranga Whānui | General Library celebrates Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu | Tuvalu Language Week.
Talofa koutou, greetings to all!
Te Herenga Mātauranga Whānui are excited to present a special selection of books from its Pacific Collection, along with photographs that beautifully capture the vibrant language, culture, and heritage of Tuvalu. Explore the display from 29 September – 5 October in the Pacific Space on Level One of Te Herenga Mātauranga Whānui | General Library.
Did you know?
- The origins of Tuvalu date to around 14th century AD with the arrival of travellers from Sāmoa, Tonga and other Polynesian islands migrating to the islands.
- All nine islands are low-lying, with no point on Tuvalu being higher than 4.5m above sea level.
- Local politicians have campaigned against climate change, arguing that it could see the islands swamped by rising sea levels.
- Survival means collecting rainwater, as there are no streams or rivers.
- Elections are held every four years but there are no active political parties.
- Almost 10 percent of the government’s revenue is raised each year by Tuvalu’s domain name .tv sought after for its similarity to the abbreviation of television. It generates some $7M annually.
- Sixty five percent of the Tuvaluan diaspora in Aotearoa are speakers of their heritage language.