Solomon Islands Pidgin Language Week '24
The theme for the inaugural Solomon Aelan Pijin Langguis Wik | Solomon Islands Pidgin Language Week is Protektim langguis an kalsa blong yumi - Protect our language and culture.'
To recognise and celebrate the week, AUT Admissions Assessor, Jillian Sabetian, shares her language learning journey in the 11th instalment of the University’s Pacific language video series for 2024, below.
Describing her language journey, Jillian says she grew up speaking Pijin, in addition to speaking her own native languages of Nduke and Roviana.
“Because the Solomon Islands has many ethnic groups, and over 70 languages, Pijin is commonly used to communicate with everyone. Language is an important aspect of my identity and shapes who I am and how I communicate. I think that by making sure your language survives from one generation to the next you help sustain your culture into the future.
“At home we’ve made an effort to speak Pijin all the time - from when my kids were born until today. They grew up hearing it before even they could speak. Even my husband, who is not a Solomon Islander, has made an effort to speak Pijin everyday with me and the kids.
“My advice to others on how to start their language journey would be toembrace the language and the culture you want to learn. Don’t be embarrassed at first if you get the words or pronunciation wrong. That’s how you will learn.”
2024 Pacific language weeks
Solomon Aelan Pijin Langguis Wik is the second of two new Pacific language weeks this year, the first being Papua New Guinea Pidgin Language Week, 10 – 16 November. They join Rotuma, Samoa, Kiribati, Cook Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Fiji, Niue and Tokelau to make a total of 11 Pacific language weeks across the year.
The theme for the Pacific Language Weeks 2024 is sustainability, and AUT’s videos are a celebration of the power of language and culture featuring our Pacific staff, students and alumni who are sharing their experiences and journey with sustaining their Pacific language.
The videos feature Pacific stories of the significance of heritage languages, from the perspectives of business leaders to educators, community leaders and more, who are all passionate about sustaining languages for future generations.
Through their stories, it will be evident the many ways in which language is a vital component of cultural identity and the ways our alumni have implemented it into their daily lives.
Solomon Islands Pidgin greetings and other resources for Solomon Aelan Pijin Langguis Wik, including email signatures and printable posters, are available on the website of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
Release date
To watch each video in the 2024 AUT Pacific language video series, follow the Pacific at AUT Facebook page or watch on YouTube.