MAORI PRONUNCIATION
Sir,-I was interested in R. T. Kohere’s article on how to pronounce Maori. Right pronunciation of the vowels is essential, as he says, but I think it would help if we remembered
that every syllable in Maori ends. in a vowel. We should not then hear such atrocities as WRot-ter-rua. Also every vowel in a word is pronounced. Some English vowel sounds are not found in Maori, as a in what, e in Pete, i in pile, o in hot, u in mute. Ng is also a stumbling block, especially at the beginning of a word. -It is one letter ‘and slightly nazal like’ the ng in singing, as ngorongoro, to snore. Bishop Wi'liams gives the e sound as in féte (using the popular English pronunciation fayte) and also e in send. Without a knowledge of grammar it is not easy to know when a vowel is long or short--as wahine, Woman, wahine, women. However, with a little care we should be able to overcome most difficulties in proper names and _ place
names,
CAROB
(Wairoa). —
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19510525.2.11.4
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 24, Issue 621, 25 May 1951, Page 5
Word count
Tapeke kupu
177MAORI PRONUNCIATION New Zealand Listener, Volume 24, Issue 621, 25 May 1951, Page 5
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in