Deaf History

Ake Ake Ake

A FOREVER LANGUAGE

The theme for Te Wiki 2024 is ‘Ake ake ake—A Forever Language’. This theme represents our language’s resilience, adaptability, and endurance and reflects New Zealanders’ commitment to embracing and learning te reo Māori long into the future.

Under enduring pressure, te reo Māori has shown it will adapt and survive. It grows with our people, our culture and our environment.

Mōrena (Moorena) – (Good) morning

tēnā koutou katoa – hello everyone

tēnā koutou – hello to you

kia ora – (interjection) hello! cheers! good luck! best wishes!

Te Reo Māori (“the Māori language”) is the indigenous language of all Māori —tāngata whenua—who lived over eight hundred years before arriving in Aotearoa from Polynesia by waka (canoe). Yes, many different dialects and accents evolve with each generation.

Tāngata whenua fought the Government for many years to establish Te Reo as the official language. Finally, in 1972, they won the battle with Ngā Tamatoa, Victoria University’s Te Reo Māori Society, and the New Zealand Māori Students Association. Obliviously, from the 1850s, the Education Department banned Te Reo and NZSL (New Zealand Sign Language) in schools here. Here is the link to read the article about our Te Reo.

https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/history-and-buildings/te-rima-tekau-tau-o-te-petihana-reo-maori-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-maori-language-petition/te-petihana-reo-maori-the-maori-language-petition/#:~:text=In%201867%2C%20the%20Native%20Schools,language%20written%20or%20spoken%20in%20.

As a deaf linguist, it is difficult to hear the Te Reo pronounce the sounds, for example, A (ah)—Pronounced like the ‘a’ in ‘are.’ (for the primary learners). Lip-reading is more or less complicated to know what they are saying. By reading Te Reo, one would need to understand Te Reo’s structures and know what the story/quote in Te Reo means, for example, Whaowhia te kete mātauranga —Fill the basket of knowledge.

https://maimoa.nz/blogs/news/te-reo-maori-essentials-a-guide-to-the-alphabet-and-pronunciation

Hata feels that pronunciation is fundamental to the actual language and a way for New Zealanders to acknowledge their unique culture. She added that Māori place names are not just names but also a part of their indigenous identity.8 May 2024

https://tewahanui.nz/te-ao-maori/maori-lecturers-say-the-mispronunciation-of-te-reo-remains-a-significant-issue-in-new-zealand#:~:text=Hata%20feels%20that%20the%20pronunciation,part%20of%20their%20indigenous%20identity.

Many Tāngata turi (Maori Deaf) could not say in Te Reo, where no Māori language concepts are available, such as Hauora, Te Whatu Ora, and Kainga Ora. It can be more difficult, as Tāngata turi (Maori Deaf) must first understand fluency in Te Reo. For example, a marae is a meeting ground where the figurehead is at the top of the marae. A wharenui resembles the human body in structure and usually represents a particular tribe ancestor. The tekoteko (carved figure) on the rooftop in front of the house represents the head, and the maihi (front barge boards) are the arms held out in welcome to visitors.

https://www.newzealand.com/nz/feature/marae-maori-meeting-grounds/#:~:text=A%20wharenui%20resembles%20the%20human,out%20in%20welcome%20to%20visitors.

https://teara.govt.nz/en/diagram/47338/nzsl-signs-for-maori-specific-concepts

https://www.kumaravine.com/news-blogs/ake-ake-ake-a-forever-language