Abstract
The aim of this commentary is to address, in the Tongan language, the challenges of language and cultural loss by Tongan people in Aotearoa/New Zealand, and what Tongan people are doing about the imposition. The comments, ideas and perspectives advanced here are based on the assumption that Tongan language and culture are knowledge-and wisdom-different from the philosophies of the West. The discussion focuses on talanoa, a Tongan social construct conceptualized and applied as an approach to good living and the creation of cultural relationships in social, spiritual and political contexts. The second half of the commentary discusses talanoa as a Tongan pedagogical approach in the education of Tongan adults and children at all stages of the education system. Talanoa is a deep and meaningful approach, and by using it (Tongan) teachers, educators and researchers can promote and encourage critical and advanced thinking, leading to higher learning and deeper understanding. In academia, talanoa is becoming a Tongan research method. The commentary concludes by calling on Tongan people to further our talanoa in Tongan language and culture as a way to deepen our thinking and develop our critical perspectives of the relationship between the body, soul (heart) and mind, these being the “sites” of Tongan knowledge and wisdom.
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