Loss of iTaukei language reading skills: A grave concern for Fiji's future

The decline in iTaukei language proficiency and the inability of our children to read the iTaukei Bible in their own dialect is a matter of urgent national concern.

If Fiji's indigenous community is to remain vibrant and competitive, all sectors-parents, educators, leaders-must heed the call to preserve and nurture our language and cultural identity.

The recent news that many iTaukei children cannot read their own Bible in their dialect is both shameful and alarming. Such a lapse points to a deeper issue: the erosion of our language starts at home and in the community. As the Bible teaches us, everything begins from Jerusalem-meaning, in our context, from the home. It is within the family environment that the roots of language and culture are strongest.

The question must be asked: how did we arrive at this point? The gradual decline of iTaukei language skills among the youth is a reflection of broader societal changes, including the pervasive influence of gadgets and modern technology, which often sideline our mother tongue. While English remains vital for education and employment, losing the iTaukei language threatens our very identity as the indigenous owners of Fiji.

Our regional neighbours-Australia and New Zealand- set commendable examples by prioritising their indigenous languages during national events.

Fiji should follow suit. Unfortunately, even government communications in iTaukei are marred by inadequate language use, and older teaching materials like Viti Dua to Viti 8, which contained proper Bauan dialect, have faded into history.

Every iTaukei is distinguished by their language, culture, and traditional attire-markers of their unique identity. Losing the ability to read and speak our language diminishes these cultural treasures.

The inability of children to read the iTaukei Bible reflects a failure by adults to pass on our language and traditions through generations-via songs, meke, and daily conversation.

To address this crisis, we must prioritise the teaching of iTaukei and vernacular languages in schools.

Making these subjects compulsory and establishing a standardised iTaukei language for nationwide communication can help unify and strengthen our cultural fabric. If countries like Japan, China, Indonesia, and India can teach and promote their indigenous languages, Fiji should do the same.

Pride in our heritage is essential. Chiefs and community leaders must champion the preservation of our language as part of their leadership mandate.

Teaching children from an early age to read in iTaukei not only preserves our culture but also fosters critical skills-imagination, learning, and social cohesion.

Reading our own Bible in iTaukei is more than a religious act; it is a statement of identity and resilience.

Let us commit to making the iTaukei language a source of pride and a vital part of our future. Our survival as a people depends on it.

Feedback: maikeli.vesikula@fijisun.com.fj