The Maori-English Language Nexus in 1980

Abstract

This paper (the third in a series) is concerned with the language relationship between the two New Zealand languages. Its treatment is lexical and sociological. Despite certain setbacks, it is argued that the position in 1980 is much more positive than it was in 1970 and that the confidence of the Maori is vastly greater than it was then. The Maori acculturation of English is also referred to, as is the (linguistic) attention to Samoan and various other Pacific languages within New Zealand. The peculiarly sympathetic attitude of English to Maori is stressed by reference to: official documents, the 'S.O.E.D.', educational texts and to the way in which the early sympathy has been built onto. Some history is given of the (now defunct) periodical, the 'Multi Cultural School', a peculiarly promising and linguistically exciting aspect of the relationship between the Maori and the pakeha.