MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1940, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

REO MAORI (LANGUAGE). (Recorded by J.H.S., o£ Palmerston North, for the “Times-Age.”) The Maori language o*bviously originated from ancient sources , indeed every known language has certainly been evolved from one beginning, doubtless that of Eve or Adam, Cain and Abel. The Maori words seem to have been simplified, improved, and made ideal by their long halts in various groups en route to Aotea roa. Maori Hara (sin) in those islands becomes Sala, Hala, Ara Ha-a. Maori Ngutu (lip) is changed to Gutu, Utu, Nuku and Maori Ua (rain) became Urani, Ulani, Ulan. Ula. On the other hand the Maori limited to a few consonants has been compelled to accept such absurdities as Kororai (glory), Hiruharama (Jerusalem), Akarana (Auckland), Hoia (soldier), etc., from our words. The original Maori language was simple and musical, capable of describing any circumstance or objective in poetic terms, oratoric flights and free conversational bouts. When we came with objects for which they had no name, or knowledge, and abstract ideas quite unknown they had no alternative but to adopt these hybrid atrocities.

The only difficulty in acquiring a thorough knowledge of its ideal simplicity is the peculiar use ot particles and the changing form of sentences tc express the many fine grades of .meaning. It is easy indeed. to acquire r “lingo”; but in the absence of any forir of original Maori writing, it is rare indeed that one may find even a licensed interpreter, other than a Maori who can make a speech (reo Maori) acceptable to the Maori sensitive ear.