language nest (English)
Where does "language nest" come from?
The English term 'language nest' was coined as a direct translation, or calque, of the Maori phrase 'kōhanga reo'[1]. The expression refers to an immersion setting designed to foster language revitalisation among young learners and non-native speakers, metaphorically framing the learning space as a protective nest for cultivating an endangered tongue.
Full etymology tree
- language nest (English), 'A language revitalisation programme in which children and non-native speakers acquire the endangered language through immersion in special-purpose locations called 'nests'.'
- calque kōhanga reo (Maori)
Sources
Updated October 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris