Language shift has been most prevalent in migrant communities, particularly those with larger numbers living outside of the homelands such as the Samoan community in New Zealand. Given the influence of the dominant cultures on migrant languages, global studies have stressed that the ultimate survival of a language depends on the intergenerational transmission within the family. The issue of language reproduction and intergenerational transmission in the home and family is a critical issue for all minority groups whose language and cultural vitality is under threat, as families can be the vehicle for maintenance and growth, or for the decay and loss of languages and their inherent cultures.
New Zealand census data suggests that the migrant Samoan population, numerically large, characterised by its increase in New Zealand-borns, third and fourth generation families, and increased multiple ethnicity due to intermarriage, are losing the Samoan language in New Zealand, particularly amongst the youthful New Zealand-born population. Samoan language loss does not occur in isolation, so there is a need for research from both the macro- and micro- societal levels to get the wider social, cultural, physical, demographic and political influencing on language maintenance.
This paper will discuss findings from my doctoral study (completed in 2017) which explored the use and valuing of the Samoan language in New Zealand families today. The aims of this qualitative and family-based study were to identify factors which might impact these declines with five South Auckland families drawing on a bricolage of methodologies and data collection methods such as individual talanoaga, participant observations, speech recordings and 24-hour recall sheets of language use. The Samoan family was chosen as the vehicle for this study given its central place in the fa’asamoa, as the place where values, beliefs and practices are nurtured and where activity and decision-making changes occur. Youth were a second focus in this study as future carriers of Samoan language, yet data shows that they are experiencing the most language shift. It will be argued that sustaining the Samoan language will require family, community and State partnerships so that Samoan continues used and valued in New Zealand.
