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| Thread ID: 113437 | 2010-10-20 02:26:00 | Maori language dying - is it really a problem though? | wratterus (105) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1146359 | 2010-10-20 22:04:00 | It will be a major tragedy for the producers of Maori dictionaries. | R2x1 (4628) | ||
| 1146360 | 2010-10-20 22:08:00 | Many if not all languages mutate over time, we'd be stymied most of the time by Elizabethan English, and all european languages differ significantly today from that spoken in the 19th century or earlier. Just find an antique book and try to read it. I have a 210 year old volume here and it is hard work to make sense of much of the content, while books of the late 18th century are eminently readable, if a little quaint. The only way to preserve a language, Maori included, is for it to be in daily use and to have enthusiatic speakers, but daily use means it will mutate as it adapts to the times. Trying to find traditional maori names for anything that didn't exist in pre-european times is a total waste of time and simply creates clumsy expressions like those the native americans used to describe sights, sounds and actions of european settlers that had no equivalent in their cutural or linguistic experience. Language is a living thing, and use it or lose it is the rule. Trying to prop a language up artificially when it lacks any daily relevance beyond cultural nostalgia is simply doomed to failure, as Maori will find out for themselves by the end of this century. All the laws, good intentions, political prognostications, or hui's and thunderings on the Marae will be of no avail. However, what I would really like to know about the Maori language is why it produces so much phlegm. I have yet to hear an elder speak on a marae without puctuating the whole event with repeated bronchial coughs. They all do it, and there is no fluency in their delivery. If you have never noticed it, watch and listen next time. Cheers Billy 8-{) |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 1146361 | 2010-10-20 22:32:00 | Phlegm - High proportion of maori, even from youth smoke, accumulating respiratory issues, which I think becomes apparent from elderly speakers on the Marae I guess. I guess the same about preservation could be said about Irish and the Scottish, which have their own english lingual expressions. But they don't seem to speak (or is apparent in public) their own language, as they too may have lost/or not learnt their language (e.g. Gaelic), assuming if they ever had it. |
kahawai chaser (3545) | ||
| 1146362 | 2010-10-20 23:02:00 | Many if not all languages mutate over time, we'd be stymied most of the time by Elizabethan English, and all european languages differ significantly today from that spoken in the 19th century or earlier. Just find an antique book and try to read it. I have a 210 year old volume here and it is hard work to make sense of much of the content, while books of the late 18th century are eminently readable, if a little quaint. The only way to preserve a language, Maori included, is for it to be in daily use and to have enthusiatic speakers, but daily use means it will mutate as it adapts to the times. Trying to find traditional maori names for anything that didn't exist in pre-european times is a total waste of time and simply creates clumsy expressions like those the native americans used to describe sights, sounds and actions of european settlers that had no equivalent in their cutural or linguistic experience. Language is a living thing, and use it or lose it is the rule. Trying to prop a language up artificially when it lacks any daily relevance beyond cultural nostalgia is simply doomed to failure, as Maori will find out for themselves by the end of this century. All the laws, good intentions, political prognostications, or hui's and thunderings on the Marae will be of no avail. However, what I would really like to know about the Maori language is why it produces so much phlegm. I have yet to hear an elder speak on a marae without puctuating the whole event with repeated bronchial coughs. They all do it, and there is no fluency in their delivery. If you have never noticed it, watch and listen next time. Cheers Billy 8-{) Words of absolute wisdom Billy! Well said! Latin has been absorbed into French, English, German, Italian and Spanish, the French are fighting a losing battle against "Franglais", the Welsh are trying the same route as maori, with the same amount of success. Preserving the maori language is like King Canute trying to hold back the tide. An absolute waste of time and resources. |
johcar (6283) | ||
| 1146363 | 2010-10-20 23:29:00 | Here in Napier/Hastings district we have an old banger of a bus on the road with a sign "KURA" on the back of it. Always wondered what it was and finally asked my girls on my school van run what "KURA" was in English. Apparently it translates as "SCHOOL" Leads me to the question - the road rules say... Reduce speed to 20km/h when passing a stationary school bus Would be interesting if someone got a traffic infringement notice for not obeyin this law and contested it in the courts. Ken :punk |
kenj (9738) | ||
| 1146364 | 2010-10-20 23:32:00 | Here in Napier/Hastings district we have an old banger of a bus on the road with a sign "KURA" on the back of it. Always wondered what it was and finally asked my girls on my school van run what "KURA" was in English. Apparently it translates as "SCHOOL" Leads me to the question - the road rules say... Reduce speed to 20km/h when passing a stationary school bus Would be interesting if someone got a traffic infringement notice for not obeyin this law and contested it in the courts. Ken :punk The law states a sign with school on it. Has to be NATO colors font size and must be able to be changed Dob them into the LSTA. |
prefect (6291) | ||
| 1146365 | 2010-10-21 00:54:00 | I guess the same about preservation could be said about Irish and the Scottish, which have their own english lingual expressions . But they don't seem to speak (or is apparent in public) their own language, as they too may have lost/or not learnt their language (e . g . Gaelic), assuming if they ever had it . The Irish certainly preserve and speak their own language . The language is most evident on the road signs, particularly in the countryside . But the majority speak their own brand of English with many different accents throughout the country . But at least they care about their own tongue and do not require government intervention to keep it alive . |
Roscoe (6288) | ||
| 1146366 | 2010-10-21 01:38:00 | The language is dying as no one wants to speak or learn it If no one wants to speak or learn it, then shouldn't we let it die. In reality, it will not truly die, fluent Maori Language speakers will become rare. Want to save the language, Ban English on marae's. Get your people to send their kids off to learn it after school or on weekends (will never happen) Go with your kids & learn the language with them (will never happen) Speak Maori at home instead of English (will never happen) |
1101 (13337) | ||
| 1146367 | 2010-10-21 03:00:00 | Somebody mentioned the use of the Welsh language. See here: www.imagef1.net.nz |
Scouse (83) | ||
| 1146368 | 2010-10-21 03:05:00 | It gets worse. I really hope this does not gain momentum. www.voxy.co.nz |
DeSade (984) | ||
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