Another Language

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30957, 13 January 1966, Page 10

Another Language

The University of Auckland will add Chinese to its language courses this year and will increase to seven the number of modern languages taught in New Zealand universities. All the universities except the University of Waikato teach French and German and all except Massey University and the University of Waikato teach Russian; Massey offers a one-year course in Japanese. Victoria and Auckland Universities teach Italian, and Auckland runs courses in Spanish. Last year, Spanish and Italian were approved as subjects for university entrance examination from 1967. The steady broadening of the range of advanced language studies continues. Apart from cultural benefits and the better understanding of other people to be had from a knowledge of languages, greater skills and versatility in language improve our resources for diplomacy and trade. Even in Australia, where the opportunities for language instruction are greater, the Department of External Affairs cannot easily combine language and other qualifications in the deployment of its foreign service officers. In that department the most widely known Asian language is Indonesian, with Japanese second to it. Russian is taught in New Zealand, with particular regard to its value in science. The other languages should serve those who work abroad in embassies, in trade posts, and in private business. A case might be made for expanding New Zealanders’ knowledge of Spanish, Malay, and Japanese in the interests of commerce and diplomatic relations: but the universities cannot offer new courses until they have recruited sufficient qualified staff. As the world’s most numerous race, the Chinese people obviously warrant that closer study which only a knowledge of their language can ensure. As fellow inhabitants of the shores of the Pacific, they are of special interest to New Zealanders.