English

The term "English" appears in two distinct contexts in recent news. In New Zealand, a bill is progressing to formally recognize English as an official language, alongside te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. This move, while supported by the ruling coalition, has been criticized as unnecessary and cynical, given English's widespread use (95% of the population). Conversely, the dominance of Mandarin is impacting other languages, such as Cantonese. The preservation of Cantonese faces challenges including limited learning resources and a lack of a standard written form. AI is being explored as a tool to help preserve Cantonese and its associated culture, highlighting the ongoing struggle for linguistic diversity in the face of dominant languages and technological advancements.