Recognition of Māori word "kaitiakitanga" highlights the value of Indigenous languages

Kaitiakitanga topped a list of 223 words from 75 languages compiled by Babbel. The platform analyzed thousands of discussions across online language communities, and an international jury of linguists, writers and cultural experts selected the winner based on four criteria: sound, meaning, rarity and cultural relevance. 

Rooted in the Māori world view, kaitiakitanga describes guardianship of the environment for present and future generations. It has no direct equivalent in most other languages. As communities around the world confront the effects of climate change, the word captures in a single term a value that many languages need whole sentences to express. This highlights the unique knowledge and worldviews embodied in Indigenous languages and underscores the importance of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.

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