Launch of SIL Pacific website

Photographer: Elyse Patten
The South Pacific is considered to be 18,346 kilometers wide which is nearly half the earth's circumference. It is home to 1,312 living languages which is 18.5% of the world’s 7,106 languages. It is also home to diverse cultures and races proud of their Oceanic heritage. Most of these cultures and languages are maintained by Polynesian, Melanesian, Micronesian and Aboriginal peoples. The Pacific region has the richest diversity of languages in the world. SIL teams work with language communities and assist them with their own language development.

(August 2014) SIL Pacific Area Director Mark Taber announces the launch of the updated and expanded Pacific website, which is an expansion of SIL International's website. “We are committed to serving language communities in the Pacific by supporting them in achieving their language development goals. This website is another opportunity for local communities, government officials, academics, and other NGOs to get to know us better,” said Taber. “We want to tell others about the work we are doing and to promote greater access to the materials we develop.”

Major sections:

  • About SIL Pacific
  • Language Development
  • Language & Culture
  • Resources
  • Training
  • Descriptions of Pacific countries where SIL staff are involved
     

The new website features include:

  • expanded access to academic information on language development in the Pacific region
  • links that allow readers to browse the Pacific Languages & Culture Archives by contributors, countries, domains, subjects, languages and languages codes; some downloadable articles; plus some publications for purchase
  • access to SIL International’s downloadable language development software and fonts
  • optimized for a range of devices: tablets, hand-helds, as well as computers
     

Language is at the core of each community’s culture, heritage and identity. The Pacific’s many smaller language communities often lack the resources needed to ensure their language continues to serve its changing social, cultural, political, economic and spiritual needs and goals. SIL's mission is to support sustainable language development in Pacific communities through consultation, training, research and advocacy.

People who speak lesser-known languages often live in geographic, social, and economic isolation. Studying these languages results in practical help for local people and contributes to the broader knowledge of linguistics, anthropology, and ethnomusicology. SIL publishes its research and widely distributes it to libraries, universities, governments, and international agencies.

With 1,312 living languages, the Pacific region has the richest diversity of languages in the world. SIL has nearly 60 years of language development experience serving these language communities in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Micronesia and Polynesia. SIL's mission is to support sustainable language development in Pacific communities through consultation, training, research and advocacy. 

Related links: