Green MP's claim English is a 'bastard language' is broadly correct, but speech had errors: Professor

Green Party MP Tamatha Paul recently drew attention for her speech in Parliament, where she described the English language as a "bastardisation" of other languages. Professor Paul Moon, a historian at Auckland University of Technology, has stated that Paul's assertion is broadly correct, acknowledging the linguistic origins of English as a hybrid language.

Professor Moon, who has taught at AUT since 1993 and worked on Waitangi Tribunal claims, supports the view that English has evolved through the amalgamation of various linguistic influences. This perspective highlights the historical development of English, incorporating elements from Germanic, Latin, French, and other languages over centuries.

However, Professor Moon also pointed out that while Paul's central argument about the nature of English holds merit, her parliamentary speech contained factual errors. The article does not elaborate on the specific inaccuracies within Paul's address, focusing instead on the validation of her core linguistic claim by the history professor.

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Green MP for Wellington Central Tamatha Paul.