Papua New Guinean woman says indigenous language 'so important to hold on to'

It is Papua New Guinea Pidgin Language Week in Aotearoa, and the theme for 2024 is "Lukautim, strongim na kirapim tokples na pasin blo tubuna", which translates to "preserve, revitalise, and promote our language and culture".

Papua New Guinea is the largest Pacific Island nation, home to nearly 11 million people.

Victoria Ongolea, a doctoral candidate at the University of Auckland's Business School, hails from Koge in Simbu Province.

Ongalea is pleased that Tok Pisin has been officially recognised, but believes there should be more initiatives beyond just language weeks.

"It's a starting point; it should be implemented throughout the year through people getting to know the cultural foods, whether through attending church or events," she said.

"At the end of the day, the language is slowly fading away every year, and indigenous language is in danger, but are so important to hold on to."

Surrounded by nature's beauty, rivers, waterfalls, and mountains, her early years were steeped in the cultural richness of her homeland.

"The beauty of nature was woven into my daily life, but I only fully understood its significance after moving to Tonga and then New Zealand," Ongalea said.

At eight, her father moved the family back to his homeland, Tonga, and Ongolea began a new chapter.

Gradually, her fluency in Tok Pisin, the language of her childhood, faded as she adapted to a new linguistic and cultural environment.

"Growing up in Papua New Guinea, I spoke pijin."

Though she can still follow slow-spoken Tok Pisin and recalls basic phrases, Ongolea feels the gradual loss of connection to her first language.

"My childhood in PNG is a treasure I hold dear; it's a reminder of my roots and a testament to the beauty of embracing one's heritage," she says.

"Transitioning into a new environment, a new ecosystem, a new habitat, I had to learn Tongan language and the culture, and so I was raised in the Tongan language and my pijin slowly faded away.

"My proficiency of speaking tok pisin faded away. I am now trying to learn.

"There are other students on campus and I have decided to connect with them so that I can learn that part of me which I felt has been lost for quiet a while [and] absent from my life."

Now one of around 1100 Papua New Guinea diaspora in New Zealand, Ongolea is navigating how to reconnect with her roots while also celebrating her adopted cultures.

"Papua New Guinea's diversity - over 800 languages - reflects a culture that values authenticity to your roots," she said. "Part of your identity is rooted in your mother tongue."

One of the official languages, Tok Pisin, is a Creole language that serves as a lingua franca for many Papua New Guineans. It evolved from English and incorporates elements from various local languages.

For Ongolea, who also works as a financial wellbeing coach, this journey aligns with her plans.

She's set to complete her PhD focusing on the Tongan community, where her research will deepen her ties to her heritage, while expanding her understanding of Pacific identities in New Zealand.

"I thank Aotearoa, New Zealand, for opening up this platform to celebrate our language weeks regardless of our nationality, that we are welcome to the Tangata whenua of this land, to celebrate our culture on their land."

'Simply no comparison'

Associate Professor in Linguistics Jason Brown, and Associate Dean of Academic in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Auckland, is committed to the languages of the Pacific, with a particular focus on those from Papua New Guinea.

Brown's research has given him a perspective on the longevity and resilience of these languages.

He said unlike English and French, which are relatively recent developments, the languages of Bougainville have been spoken for thousands of years-providing an invaluable contrast and a profound tapestry of human experience.

"Some of these languages are an astounding 40,000 years old," Brown asserts. "For perspective, English and French are merely newcomers, having emerged only a few thousand years ago.

"There is simply no comparison to languages with such deep roots; they reveal how people lived and what life was truly like in the past.

The descendants of those ancient peoples still thrive in the region," says Brown.

Brown pointed out that New Zealand stands out as a global leader in the maintenance and revitalisation of indigenous languages, a clear contrast to the insufficient efforts he observed while growing up in the United States.