One thing as a Kiwi you know is there are some parts of the New Zealand culture that are really unique. English for example, is spoken by well over one billion people worldwide. However, every country, and even regions within those countries have their own special dialects and so on.
In New Zealand it takes that to an even higher level.
In our country our English is a lot like what you would find in Australia compared to the rest of the world, in fact if anyone from New Zealand went to the UK or America many people would probably think you are from Australia.
Compared to Australia there are many more words that come from the island's native people the Maori people.
Thanks to their language Te Reo, and their culture, the English in New Zealand is something unique compared to the English in other English speaking countries around the world.
Te Reo words that have snuck into our day to day vocabulary are not just cool things to say when we speak, they also help us to appreciate our culture, and for other countries around the world to share in the culture of New Zealand as well.
Maybe you've never realised some of the words that you use come from te reo.
Not only is this something cool it can be useful as well.
Learning which words from Te Reo are used during day to day life in New Zealand can help you learn the Maori language. For those interested, you can learn te reo Maori with expert guidance.
There are plenty of other countries around the world that are home to two different languages and therefore, that creates an edge when trying to learn the other language as it is unavoidably influenced by the other.
So, what words from Te Reo are used in our English on a day to day basis? Also, how can that help you learn the language?
Who are the Maori people and what is their culture?
Before getting into the vocabulary we use from the Te Reo language, we should take a step back and have a look at who created this language, as well as what type of culture have they given to the islands in New Zealand.
As the language is so different, and the Maori culture is so important to the history of New Zealand it will be very important to have a glance at who the Maori people are and some of their importance to the culture of these islands and this country.
If you didn't know anything about the Maori people, they are the indigenous people of New Zealand.
One in seven New Zealanders identify as Maori, which makes it not such a small minority in the country nowadays. Over one thousand years ago the Maori people made their way to New Zealand from East Polynesia. Since they arrived the Maori culture was and still is central to the islands.
Europeans in the 18th century arrived to New Zealand and eventually signed the Treaty of Waitangi, Europeans, mainly English, arrived to the islands and the Maori people eventually became the minority.
While the two cultures co-existed, there were problems between the Maori people and the Europeans who arrived to the islands in the eighteenth century. This eventually led to the Maori people losing a lot of their land and then armed conflicts with the new European settlers.
The Maori people eventually started to become a bit more influenced by European culture as many started to learn English and convert to Christianity, however they still managed to keep their culture in tact.
During the 1980 Maori culture really started to become prevalent in New Zealand society again, and a new found biculturalism was born, leading to more and more influence from Maori culture, which we can see in the English language in New Zealand.
Maori culture in day to day life
Maori or Te Reo is heard everywhere, that is due to the number of native speakers in New Zealand as well as the language's status as an official language in the country.
Many official places in the country have Maori names, which thanks to this you will know how to pronounce the names and that can help you to learn pronunciation of words in the Maori language. This is just one example of how Maori vocabulary and culture can help you to learn the Maori language easier.
Tikanga which is a Maori philosophy, is something that all New Zealanders try to abide by, this philosophy means welcome your guests, which is exactly what the native Maori have done for the European settlers and what citizens of New Zealand do for anyone who they happen to meet.
Advice for learning a second language
Whether it is Maori, Spanish, Chinese, or whatever other language you would like to learn it can be really difficult at times to become a very good speaker.
So what are some things you can do to learn the Maori language as quickly as possible?
Don't be scared to speak
On of the things that holds us back the most when we try to learn a new language is the fear of making mistakes or sounding silly because our pronunciation isn't that good just yet, or perhaps you aren't sure if you understand the grammar.
This is totally normal when you learn a language, it may take years before you have a good level of grammar, so try your best not to shy away from conversations when you have the opportunity.
The more you speak, the faster you will learn the language.
Speak to native Maori speakers
Maori is really prevalent in New Zealand society, however the Maori people are in the minority and they also speak English really well, which may make you want to use your native English to speak to a Maori speaker.
To really begin to learn the language as quickly as possible, it will really help you to speak with a native Maori speaker.
They will be able to give you some pointers, although they aren't professional tutors one or two pointers from a friend can go a long way.
While speaking to native speakers, they will also naturally slow down or speed up their talking, depending on your level and how fast you speak. It can also help you improve your colloquial terms in whatever language you practice speaking in.
One of the best ways to practice a new language, as well as meet new people and friends is to speak to native speakers as well as not be afraid to speak to native speakers.
Practicing Maori with a private tutor
Another great way of practicing Maori and foreign languages is to work with a private tutor that can teach you the language.
You will still need to do your part, talking to natives, and not being a shy speaker, however a tutor can help raise your level of Te Reo Maori much quicker and more precisely than if you didn't have anyone there to correct your pronunciation or grammar.
If you are wondering where you can find a private tutor that can teach you Maori, one of the best places you can look is on the tutoring website Superprof.
Superprof has many private tutors available to teach Maori, on your schedule, and at your level.
You can also check if the tutor is a reliable and capable tutor thanks to the reviews of previous students. You might also consider an online Maori course to further enhance your skills.
Maori words used in English
As mentioned earlier in the article the Maori culture has withstood time and European influence and sees itself as a culture that coexists with the English culture brought from Europe in the eighteenth century.
Thanks to that perseverance we see plenty of words from Te Reo in our English in New Zealand, one or two words that are even world famous (thanks to the rugby).
So, what are words we frequently use in English and their meanings that can give you a jumpstart to learning Te Reo Maori?
- Aotearoa - New Zealand
- Aroha - love
- Haka - a war dance (Thanks All Blacks)
- Kai - food
- Kea - native parrot of New Zealand
- Mako - Shark
- Kiwi - the flightless bird and symbol of New Zealand
These are just a few of the words we hear or see just about everyday in New Zealand. Just from reading this you might just realise you are not starting your Maori learning from level 0 after all.
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