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Your Word Is My Word—It Is Our Word



Author(s)

Papaaliitele Moeimanono Fouvaa, Seiuli Vaifou Aloalii-Temese

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DOI:10.17265/1539-8080/2013.03.008

National University of Samoa, Apia, Samoa

This paper was submitted to the CLESOL (Community Languages and English for Speakers of Other Languages) 2012 International Conference in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Words and language represent beliefs and values, and the culture of people in their community(ies) for sharing ideas and opinions, convey messages to teach, admonish, instruct, and inform people. This paper reports on doctoral research into the importance of the home as the first port of learning and reservoir of cultural knowledge. Home and community provide opportunities to further knowledge of how language is used and to interact with other people. Young members become familiar with the use of words or language and its contextual and cultural meaning(s). From this practice, children will increase their understanding of how words/language is used and help to maintain their language.

first port of learning, reservoir of cultural knowledge, familiar and maintain