The Pacific Islands are home to around 1,500 living languages, representing around 25% of the world’s linguistic diversity, many of which are on the verge of disappearing. Recognising the responsibility that comes with safeguarding such an invaluable heritage, and the importance of adopting an inclusive and respectful approach to ensure the success of its projects, the Pacific Community (SPC) is proud to present Tok Pasifika. Open to all, it is the first network of language service providers covering more than 20 Pacific languages, offering a wide range of services including translation, interpretation, transcription, voice-over and more.
Why does it matter?
“Without my language, I am nothing,” powerfully states Dr Michael Mel, a Papua New Guinean academic whose mother tongue is Melpa, one of the country’s 840 living languages. Indeed, languages are much more than tools for communication: they are the foundation of our identity and the expression of how we see the world around us. They are cultural repositories at the very heart of the heritage to be passed on to future generations.
In Nauru, Tre Dabwido recalls that her people came close to extinction twice in their history, having to rebuild the population to over 1,500 each time to be recognised as such. “Today, with a population of 12,000, the survival and thriving of our language is a testament to our resilience and the enduring strength of the Pacific spirit.” she says, defending the dorerin Naoero, the Nauruan language.
For Victoria Jamore, a proud daughter of the Marshall Islands, language is the soul of her people. One example of this connection lies in the name of the islands themselves: Aelon̄ Kein Ad. At first glance, it simply means “our islands.” But dig deeper, and the layers of meaning unfold like a woven mat: Ae for ocean, lon̄ for sky, Kein for land, and Ad for ours. “It’s a beautiful reminder that we are one with our environment,” Victoria explains. “Our language reflects our unity and our relationship with the world around us.”
How to use Tok Pasifika
Designed as a practical tool for producing information materials in Pacific languages, Tok Pasifika takes the form of a register listing services available in more than 20 island languages, including Bislama, Chamorro, Chuukese, Fijian, Fiji Hindi, Gilbertese, Cook Islands Māori, Marshallese, Nauruan, Niuean, Palauan, Solomon Islands Pijin, Rotuman, Samoan, Tahitian, Tok Pisin, Tokelauan, Tongan and Wallisian. The table comes with filters to refine searches by source language, target language and type of service.
Project owners are encouraged to contact the provider of their choice directly: SPC does not supply or coordinate the services listed.
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