Language retention
Definition
The proportion of people who can speak the "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 2006 Census.
The ability to speak a first language is defined as being able to hold
an everyday conversation in that language.
First language refers to a 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 of people to speak the language of their
identified ethnicity is an indicator of the ability of ethnic groups to
retain and pass on their culture and traditions to future generations.
Language is a central component of cultural identity.
Current level
In 2006, the proportion of people who could hold everyday
conversations in the first language of their ethnic groups varied
widely between ethnic groups, from 16 percent of Cook Islands Māori to
84 percent of Koreans. Between 2001 and 2006, most ethnic groups
experienced little change in the proportion of people who could speak
their first language, although there were slight increases for Tongan,
Indian and Korean ethnic groups and slight decreases for most Pacific
and European ethnic groups.
Figure Cl3.1 Proportion of people who
could speak the first language of their ethnic group, 2001 and 2006
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of
Population and Dwellings, unpublished data
For all ethnic groups, those who were born in New Zealand were
considerably less likely to be able to speak the first language of
their ethnic group than those who were born overseas.
Figure CI3.2 Proportion of people who
could speak the first language of their ethnic group, by birthplace,
2006
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of
Population and Dwellings, unpublished data
Age and sex differences
In all ethnic groups, younger people were less likely than
older people to be able to hold an everyday conversation in the first
language of their ethnic group. In Pacific and Asian ethnic groups,
females tended to be slightly more likely than males to speak the first
language of their ethnic group, but the reverse was true in most
European ethnic groups.
Table CI3.1 Proportion (%) of people in
selected ethnic groups who can speak the first language of their ethnic
group, by age group and sex, 2006
| |
Age (years) |
Sex |
Total |
| |
0–24 |
25–49 |
50+ |
Male |
Female |
|
Pacific peoples
|
| Samoan |
46 |
71 |
88 |
58 |
60 |
59 |
| Cook Islands Māori |
6 |
23 |
50 |
15 |
17 |
16 |
| Tongan |
45 |
69 |
79 |
55 |
57 |
56 |
| Niuean |
10 |
34 |
61 |
22 |
24 |
23 |
| Tokelauan |
22 |
53 |
77 |
35 |
38 |
37 |
| Fijian |
16 |
35 |
48 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
| Asian |
| Chinese |
60 |
75 |
83 |
68 |
72 |
70 |
| Indian |
53 |
71 |
79 |
63 |
67 |
65 |
| Cambodian |
63 |
84 |
87 |
71 |
77 |
74 |
| Vietnamese |
62 |
80 |
84 |
68 |
75 |
72 |
| Korean |
81 |
87 |
89 |
83 |
85 |
84 |
| European |
| Dutch |
20 |
62 |
80 |
58 |
58 |
58 |
| Greek |
23 |
66 |
86 |
59 |
58 |
58 |
| Croatian |
30 |
62 |
80 |
61 |
56 |
58 |
| Italian |
13 |
46 |
67 |
38 |
36 |
37 |
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, unpublished data |
