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ABC Australia – Sione Tapani Mangisi, an author and publisher, has embarked on a mission to safeguard the Tongan language through storytelling and the creation of dual language books for the upcoming generation.
He emphasized the critical importance of preserving all minority languages, as they are at risk of disappearing if no action is taken. In an interview with Stories from The Pacific, he expressed his concern, stating, “I know some of the languages in the Pacific are dying out. I know that the Tongan language is dying out, especially in the diaspora.”
As of today, the Kingdom of Tonga is home to approximately 106,000 residents, and there is a growing number of individuals with Tongan heritage residing in Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand).
In Australia, around 33,000 people identify as having Tongan ancestry, while in New Zealand, this number exceeds 80,000.
Lamenting the fact that his own children had limited proficiency in the Tongan language, Sione Tapani Mangisi and his wife established Puletau Publishing as a means to preserve their native tongue, one story at a time, following his retirement.
As a first-generation immigrant, he expressed his regrets, saying, “I am the first generation here. I lament the fact that my two children can barely speak Tongan, and I admit that’s mostly my fault because I didn’t talk to them in Tongan despite being very fluent in both Tongan and English.”
Mangisi, a 75-year-old author based in Melbourne, introduced his initial dual language book in a series, written in both English and Tongan, three years ago. He is now urging fellow Tongans to follow suit in this endeavor.
“You know, the history of Tonga is mostly written by non-Tongans, mostly in English … by English people. And I want Tongans who can speak English to please try [to] write in both languages.
Check this website out for books in Tongan.
Puletau Publishing