from w
An interesting point has been raised about the use of certain Fijian words that are used for marketing purposes - clothing, tourism projects, etc. Should permission be sought to use a certain name that has particular meaning to the Fijian people. Okay, there's Mana Island for a start. The word 'mana' is full of implications - religious connotations for Pacific Islanders so what's that got to do with a tourist resort eh! I really wonder though if you need a decree (law) about it as there seems to be far too many trivialities in decrees. Maybe a polite request is all that is needed and an explanation to the designers of clothes of the meaning of the new label. It's also an opportunity for Fiji actually to promote Fijian values - perhaps. The reference to the next Bose Vanua - is interesting. I wonder when?
From the Fiji Sun today:
LAW FOR iTAUKEI RIGHTS
writer : CAROLINE RATUCADRA
10/20/2011
The use of iTaukei words and names by merchandisers for branding of their products will be protected under a new law on traditional knowledge and expressions of culture.
The iTaukei Institute of Language and Culture under the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs is waiting Cabinet’s decision on the model law.
This draft legislation is to safeguard traditional knowledge and expressions of culture from abuse and commercialisation without consent from traditional owners.
When enacted, the new legislation will ensure that owners and custodians are recognised and that their rights and interests are safeguarded.
Speaking during the Macuata Provincial Council meeting in Labasa yesterday, iTaukei Institute of Language and Culture officer, Keasi Vatanitawake said the objective of the new law was to preserve iTaukei protocol, culture, language and identity.
Ms Vatanitawake said businesses were making money by selling branded items and products that provinces were known for, or identified with.
She said some of the names used and iTaukei words were of traditional values to the iTaukeis.
However, majority cases, the traditional owners have not been consulted or compensated for the use of their rightful identity.
They include the sale of iTaukei-branded clothes and cultural artifacts that are marketed daily and exposed to copyright.
And example relayed to the council members was the sales of bula-shirts with brand name, Aisokula. Ai Sokula is the clan to which the current Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu belongs to. Ratu Naiqama, the paramount chief of Cakaudrove is a member of the Ai Sokula clan.
Ms Vatanitawake said the objective of the new law was to safeguard and oversee that owners and custodians are recognised and were not exploited for commercial gain. She said some form of compensation should be given accordingly for the use of their identity.
Council member, Samuela Nakete applauded the initiative saying that it was an issue that needed to be discussed by their chiefs during the next Bose Vanua meeting.
Showing posts with label Fijian language. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fijian language. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Call me old-fashioned but
from w
Call me old-fashioned but I don't intend to use the term i-taukei every time I need to describe what the old word 'Fijian' meant. Look at this article and how silly it sounds with every mention of the word i-taukei which means land-owning anyway. Okay, good move by this gentleman to produce books for the school-kids using songs. Way to go. It's only one of the Fijian languages of course. Are there going to be books for the Labasa kids with words such as aaaa in them. A'a'a'a of course is the Labasa word for katakata - meaning hot.
From the Fiji FBC yesterday:
Passion for the language makes Lote write
Sunday, September 26, 2010
He loves his mother-tongue so much that he teaches, produces songs and composes music in it. And now he has written three books in his mother-tongue. Former school teacher Etonia Lote says his passion for the i-taukei language prompted him to write the books“ Moli Koula” – the “Uto ni Moli Koula” and “Na Coke ni Moli Koula.” The three books - written in the i-taukei language were launched yesterday at the Holiday Inn in Suva. Lote says he would like to see the i-taukei students in country be taught their language and their culture.
“I love speaking the i-taukei language ad I love teaching the i-taukei language to i-taukei students. I also love teaching i-taukei students how to behave and how to keep that high discipline in their classroom and how to behave at home. I felt that it would be good to show it in the text books – so that teachers all over Fiji can teach the students – the i-taukei students about what we expect from them.”
Meanwhile Education Minister Filipe Bole had commended Lote for writing the books.
The three books come with an audio CD which has about 30 songs – all in the i-taukei language. Bole says the inclusion of the songs has taken teaching to another level. “This is the first time it’s come out in this form. A workbook for the teachers, a workbook for the students and there’s the story and in addition there’s a CD. It’s a new type of teaching where lessons are taught in music. The words of the music are used in all sorts of things – you know – for grammar and other parts of the i-taukei language.”
The books will be used by forms 5, 6 and 7 students next year.
Call me old-fashioned but I don't intend to use the term i-taukei every time I need to describe what the old word 'Fijian' meant. Look at this article and how silly it sounds with every mention of the word i-taukei which means land-owning anyway. Okay, good move by this gentleman to produce books for the school-kids using songs. Way to go. It's only one of the Fijian languages of course. Are there going to be books for the Labasa kids with words such as aaaa in them. A'a'a'a of course is the Labasa word for katakata - meaning hot.
From the Fiji FBC yesterday:
Passion for the language makes Lote write
Sunday, September 26, 2010
He loves his mother-tongue so much that he teaches, produces songs and composes music in it. And now he has written three books in his mother-tongue. Former school teacher Etonia Lote says his passion for the i-taukei language prompted him to write the books“ Moli Koula” – the “Uto ni Moli Koula” and “Na Coke ni Moli Koula.” The three books - written in the i-taukei language were launched yesterday at the Holiday Inn in Suva. Lote says he would like to see the i-taukei students in country be taught their language and their culture.
“I love speaking the i-taukei language ad I love teaching the i-taukei language to i-taukei students. I also love teaching i-taukei students how to behave and how to keep that high discipline in their classroom and how to behave at home. I felt that it would be good to show it in the text books – so that teachers all over Fiji can teach the students – the i-taukei students about what we expect from them.”
Meanwhile Education Minister Filipe Bole had commended Lote for writing the books.
The three books come with an audio CD which has about 30 songs – all in the i-taukei language. Bole says the inclusion of the songs has taken teaching to another level. “This is the first time it’s come out in this form. A workbook for the teachers, a workbook for the students and there’s the story and in addition there’s a CD. It’s a new type of teaching where lessons are taught in music. The words of the music are used in all sorts of things – you know – for grammar and other parts of the i-taukei language.”
The books will be used by forms 5, 6 and 7 students next year.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Pronouncing names
from w
The tourist is telling someone on the Air Pacific plane that they are going to Nuddy.
‘No it’s Noddy,’ says someone.
‘No, it’s Nahndee.’
‘Can’t be as there’s no ‘n’ in it!’ says the first speaker.
Well, it is so. Nadi airport and town is pronounced NAHndee.
It gets complicated in Fiji because the letters ‘d’ has an ‘n’ in front of it, and ‘b’ have an added ‘m’ in front of it, ‘c’ is pronounced ‘th’, ‘g’
is pronounced as ‘ng’ and ‘q’ as ‘ngg’ and so on.
So what is Ba town? Mbbah? And Lautoka? This is usually shortened to La-TOH-ka (by me, anyway). Rakiraki is not Rocky-rocky but RA-kee-RA-kee. And Labasa? Lah-MBAH-sah with the emphasis on the second syllable.
In Australia we have our difficulties also. Tallangatta is not pronounced like Wangaratta or Coolangatta but as TaLLANGatta not WANGaratta. A cartoon by George Haddon shows the arguments about naming country towns in Victoria, Australia. Of course Geelong, where we live is pronounced as Jill-LONG and Corio Bay not as Cor-i-oh but as Cor-AY-oh. Melbourne is not Mel-burn or Mel-borne, but as MEL-bun. So have a good time when you are in Fee-chee or in Os-TRAY-lee-yah.
Now how about singing that song 'I've been everywhere man' and use these names, mainly from Vanua Levu.
The tourist is telling someone on the Air Pacific plane that they are going to Nuddy.
‘No it’s Noddy,’ says someone.
‘No, it’s Nahndee.’
‘Can’t be as there’s no ‘n’ in it!’ says the first speaker.
Well, it is so. Nadi airport and town is pronounced NAHndee.
It gets complicated in Fiji because the letters ‘d’ has an ‘n’ in front of it, and ‘b’ have an added ‘m’ in front of it, ‘c’ is pronounced ‘th’, ‘g’
is pronounced as ‘ng’ and ‘q’ as ‘ngg’ and so on.
So what is Ba town? Mbbah? And Lautoka? This is usually shortened to La-TOH-ka (by me, anyway). Rakiraki is not Rocky-rocky but RA-kee-RA-kee. And Labasa? Lah-MBAH-sah with the emphasis on the second syllable.
In Australia we have our difficulties also. Tallangatta is not pronounced like Wangaratta or Coolangatta but as TaLLANGatta not WANGaratta. A cartoon by George Haddon shows the arguments about naming country towns in Victoria, Australia. Of course Geelong, where we live is pronounced as Jill-LONG and Corio Bay not as Cor-i-oh but as Cor-AY-oh. Melbourne is not Mel-burn or Mel-borne, but as MEL-bun. So have a good time when you are in Fee-chee or in Os-TRAY-lee-yah.Now how about singing that song 'I've been everywhere man' and use these names, mainly from Vanua Levu.
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