Language retention
Definition
The proportion of people who can speak a "first language" (excluding English) of their ethnic group, for ethnic groups (other than Māori) with an established resident population in New Zealand, as recorded in the 2001 Census.
The ability to speak a language is defined as being able to hold an everyday conversation in that language. "First language" refers to an indigenous language associated with a given ethnicity, as opposed to the first language of a person. Sign language is not treated as a "first language" for the purposes of this indicator.
Relevance
The ability to speak the language of one’s identified ethnicity is an indicator of the ability to retain and pass on one’s culture and traditions to future generations. Language is a central component of cultural identity.
Current level
In 2001, the proportion of people who could hold an everyday conversation in the "first language" of their ethnic group varied widely between ethnic groups, from 17 percent of Cook Islands Māori to 81 percent of Koreans. For all ethnic groups, those who were born in New Zealand were less likely to be able to speak the "first language" than those who were born overseas.
Figure Cl3.1 Proportion of people who could speak a "first language" of their ethnic group, by birthplace, 2001
Source: Statistics New Zealand (2004a)
Age and sex differences
In all ethnic groups, young people were less likely than older people to be able to hold an everyday conversation in a "first language" of their ethnic group. The proportions were similar for males and females.
Table CI3.1 Proportion (%) of people in selected ethnic groups who can speak a "first language" of their ethnic group, by age group and sex, 2001
| |
Age (years) |
Sex |
Total |
| |
0–24 |
25–49 |
50+ |
Males |
Females |
|
| Pacific |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Samoan |
50 |
75 |
89 |
61 |
64 |
62 |
| Cook Islands Māori |
7 |
26 |
53 |
16 |
18 |
17 |
| Tongan |
44 |
66 |
73 |
53 |
54 |
54 |
| Tokelauan |
27 |
57 |
76 |
38 |
43 |
40 |
| Niuean |
13 |
38 |
61 |
24 |
27 |
26 |
| Fijian (except Fiji Indian/Indo-Fijian) |
14 |
36 |
50 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
| Asian |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Indian |
50 |
70 |
74 |
61 |
63 |
62 |
| Chinese |
59 |
75 |
82 |
67 |
71 |
69 |
| Khmer/Kampuchean/Cambodian |
67 |
85 |
87 |
73 |
79 |
76 |
| Vietnamese |
60 |
82 |
84 |
69 |
74 |
72 |
| Korean |
78 |
84 |
84 |
80 |
82 |
81 |
| European |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dutch/Netherlands |
21 |
63 |
81 |
59 |
60 |
59 |
| Greek (incl. Greek Cypriot) |
27 |
73 |
89 |
64 |
61 |
63 |
| Croat/Croatian |
41 |
70 |
81 |
66 |
63 |
65 |
| Italian |
13 |
44 |
70 |
39 |
35 |
37 |
Source: Statistics New Zealand, 2001 Census, unpublished data
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