The Maori Language

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The Maori language of New Zealand is considered to be special language within Malayo-Polynesian language group. Malayo-Polynesian family of languages is actually divided into four categories or sub-families – Polynesian, Melanesian, Micronesian and Indonesian. The Maori Language belongs to eastern Polynesian languages sub-family and is relatively close to its neighboring languages. Spectacular and worrisome part at the same time is that there are less than 10,000 fluent Maori speakers left.

The Polynesian group can be divided into east and west Polynesian subgroups (McLintok, 2009). Maori speech is a dialect of the language spoken throughout Polynesia and hence conveniently called the Polynesian language (McLintok, 2009). The Maori language is core component of Maori culture body and is the component of this culture that has very strong expressional value.

Country of New Zealand is on the most southern point regarding family of Malayo-Polynesian languages. Ten centuries ago, many voyages or carefully planned migration with use of traditional methods of navigation, people of the Polynesian, masters of Polynesian language migrated through the oceans to Hawaii. To be more accurate, final destination of Maori ancestors was eastern Archipelagoes of French Oceania and more importantly New Zealand, where it remains their home to this day.

Actual origin of language remains unclear, even after many comparisons and researches have been conducted. However, evidence obtained by linguistics suggests with relative confidence that spread of the Polynesian language was directed from Asia, not America. Various dialects in New Zealand also indicate that very early travelers arrived from central Polynesia. To conclude and provide answer where ex...

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... political or judicial process from which the Tribunal appears keen to distance itself.

The Tribunal appeared be trying to allay fears that its conception of a general right might lead immediately to unlimited public expenditure or indeed a politically problematic privileging of the Māori language in the public sphere: The creation of absolute rights to use the language is however a political or judicial response to the issue (Mamari, 2011). We could go further and promote for example, the Canadian model, which requires full bilingualism in all official documents. Official recognition is one thing but popular recognition will depend upon successful establishment of a body to promote the language for both Maori people and New Zealanders as a whole, to watch over progress and suggest strategies that overcome the difficulties that are bound to arise (Mamari, 2011).

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