Volume: 9  Number: 3  Page: 374–391

The Changing Roles of Language and Identity in the New Zealand Niuean Community: Findings from the Pasifika Languages of Manukau Project

Donna Starks Department of Applied Language Studies & Linguistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

This paper describes the Niuean community and the evolving roles of Niuean language and identity in New Zealand, where the majority of Niueans now reside. As part of the Pasifika Languages of Manukau Project (PLMP), 30 New Zealand Niueans participated in detailed interviews on issues relating to language main-tenance. This paper considers their responses both quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative data provide a basis for discussions on identity; considering age-graded changes in the areas of first language, reported language proficiency and language use. The qualitative data, which draw on personal narratives from the interviews, focuses on why these changes are taking place. The narratives provide vivid illustrations of the importance of both English and Niuean, the different roles that the two languages serve, and the conflict that many Niueans experience when attempting language maintenance initiatives in an English-dominant context.

Keywords: Pasifika language maintenance, Niuean identity, Niuean language

© 2006 D. Starks

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