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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
1146379	2010-10-23 23:50:00	MMG. Maori money grab.	Metla (12)
1146380	2010-10-24 01:10:00	Taking into consideration that language evolves, I would like to see good English promoted. I am not talking about an affected style, such as the BBC once used, but a good, well enunciated style that includes vowels rounded in a normal tone. e.g. New Zealand rather than "Noo Zillun". If they hear it pronounced correctly then most kids will have a better idea of how to spell. I would prefer that those who wish to learn Maori do so as a choice and it not be given priority over other literacy skills that children of all races will need to help them with their future. Having said that, I do like having often used Maori words included in our every day language, that becomes part of the evolution of our language; and it is a delight to hear well spoken, often soft tones, from some who do speak Maori.	Marnie (4574)
1146381	2010-10-24 04:11:00	I don’t believe all this nonsense about the Maori Language. Let’s start at the beginning. The purpose of any language is to be able to communicate verbally with the majority other people in the area where you live or travel. Therefore, the language one should learn is the one that allows you to do just that. To this end English has been embraced as the International Language in many cases. For an example, you won’t become an International Airline Pilot unless you can speak English. Imagine if you will two 747’s approaching Heathrow with the captain of one speaking Swahili and the Captain of the other speaking Maori. I suppose just for fun we could have the Air Traffic Controllers speaking Mandarin. :rolleyes: However, if you wish to become bilingual, then by all means do so, but don’t expect the taxpayer to pay for your excesses, or the government to accommodate them. World wide there are only a few thousand that can speak Maori with any fluency at all and even if the whole country could, nobody would notice or care. Just more PC BS! :mad:	B.M. (505)
1146382	2010-10-24 06:22:00	Taking into consideration that language evolves, I would like to see good English promoted. I am not talking about an affected style, such as the BBC once used, but a good, well enunciated style that includes vowels rounded in a normal tone. e.g. New Zealand rather than "Noo Zillun". If they hear it pronounced correctly then most kids will have a better idea of how to spell. You don't remember the days when all NZBC radio and TV announcers spoke BBC English? Talk about a snob language. There my be things wrong with the way we speak Engrish now in NZ but BBC English is not the way. Not even the Poms speak it these days..	paulw (1826)
1146383	2010-10-24 07:24:00	You don't remember the days when all NZBC radio and TV announcers spoke BBC English? Talk about a snob language. There my be things wrong with the way we speak Engrish now in NZ but BBC English is not the way. Not even the Poms speak it these days.. What about Nigella. Quite frankly the way a lot of young females speak these days really grates with me.	mikebartnz (21)
1146384	2010-10-24 07:33:00	And you talk about language changing... Back in the 1800's converting the Maori language to a written one was a prime chance to "tidy up" the rather esoteric (I use the term loosely) mess that had arisen from Britain being invaded so often.... so what did they do? - "wh" replaces a straightforward "eff" sound - where did that come from? Then there were was the concept of the macron.....I dispair!! It was spelt with wh because that was the closest spelling from an English speaker. If it was any thing like an f it would have been spelt with it. Someone once told be an easy way to show the pronunciation but I have regrettably forgotten it. I once new a guy who taught Maori and he said how much the language had changed. When he spoke he was pleasant to listen to.	mikebartnz (21)
1146385	2010-10-24 07:45:00	However, if you wish to become bilingual, then by all means do so, but don’t expect the taxpayer to pay for your excesses, or the government to accommodate them. Just more PC BS! :mad: Seems to me it's a bit late, they seem to have unlimited supply of money to practise their tongue.	Cicero (40)
1146386	2010-10-24 08:27:00	You don't remember the days when all NZBC radio and TV announcers spoke BBC English? Talk about a snob language . There my be things wrong with the way we speak Engrish now in NZ but BBC English is not the way . Not even the Poms speak it these days . . I do remember the days when the earlier announcers in New Zealand spoke "BBC English" . It was expected of them . They now have a variety of accents on BBC programmes, so much more natural . I don't have a problem with anyone sounding so "old BBC" so long as that is their normal way of speaking .	Marnie (4574)
1146387	2010-10-24 08:35:00	MMG. Maori money grab. :thumbs:	GameJunkie (72)
1146388	2010-10-24 09:05:00	It was spelt with wh because that was the closest spelling from an English speaker. If it was any thing like an f it would have been spelt with it. Someone once told be an easy way to show the pronunciation but I have regrettably forgotten it. I once new a guy who taught Maori and he said how much the language had changed. When he spoke he was pleasant to listen to. Perhaps using the spelling "wh" (than "f" which I think is used a lot in Pacific Island languages and spelling) has relevance (probably evolved) in maori aspects, including NZ cities names, place names, "whanau", etc since their must be a connection - e.g "whaka" "whanga" sort of like a important base word. For pronunciation, I went to a few uni lectures by Prof Bruce Biggs, and he mentioned that the maori vowel sounds are the same as Japanese. He transcribed and did plenty research on maori word linguistics/dictionaries, including pronunciation techniques.	kahawai chaser (3545)
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