Baram in Nepal, Mapuche in Argentina, or the Cherokee language in the United States. All of these languages are spoken by a minority of people in their country and do not have the status of an official language. Like in these countries, New Zealand has a minority with a language that is threatened: the Maoris.
The last years of the 20th century and the first years of the 21st century have an important meaning in the fight for the preservation of Maori culture and language. This essay’s aim is to examine this period of time concerning the language policies that were made or changed during that time.
How did language policy concerning the Maori language change at the turn of the 21st century in New Zealand? In order to be able to answer this question, the essay first focuses on the historical background, specifically at precolonial times, at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi as a consequence of the colonization by England, and the early 20th century. After this, language policies in the 1990's and early 2000's will be discussed by looking at the policy changes that were made concerning the Maori language during that time. In the end, future prospects for the next 50 years will be given.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Languages in New Zealand
3. Historical Background
3.1 Precolonialism
3.2 The Treaty of Waitangi
3.3 The early 20th century
4. Language policies in the 1990’s and 2000’s
4.1 Changes in language policies
4.2 Importance of Maori language and culture
4.3 Problems
5. Future prospects
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the evolution of language policies in New Zealand at the turn of the 21st century, focusing on the efforts made to preserve and promote the Maori language and culture following a period of historical decline.
- Historical impact of the Treaty of Waitangi on Maori language rights.
- Government-led language initiatives and policy changes during the 1990s and 2000s.
- The role of media and educational institutions in revitalizing the Maori language.
- Social challenges and societal attitudes affecting the preservation of the Maori language.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Precolonialism
Around 1300 AD the ancestor of the Maori people arrived from Central East Polynesia to Aotearoa, the Maori name for New Zealand. Their language, Polynesian, faced new objects, nature phenomena, and plants and animals, for which it did not have existing words. Through the process of creation of new words a language, different to Polynesian, developed – the Maori. It continued to bloom in the following years and after a short time it became the dominant language of New Zealand. With every year, the gap between Polynesian and Maori became wider (O'Regan 2007:157).
In 1769 Captain James Cook reached New Zealand's North Island and during his travels he kept a journal where he recorded his encounters with Maori. For his descriptions he used the words that were used in Maori for society structures, weapons, and others (Hay 2004:65). In the 1790’s the first settlers arrived in New Zealand, they were mostly British settlers who had lived before in Australia. They lived in small villages at the coast in peace with the Maori tribes and showed no intention of colonizing this new country. After some years the British Crown decided to send Captain William Hobson to New Zealand to clear the situation and to arrange a deal with the local tribes. This resulted in the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi which gave the British Crown a colonial administration over New Zealand (38f.)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the threat to the Maori language and sets the research goal of examining policy changes at the turn of the 21st century.
2. Languages in New Zealand: This chapter provides an overview of the linguistic landscape of New Zealand, highlighting the dominance of English and the integration of Maori loanwords.
3. Historical Background: This section covers the arrival of the Maori, the colonization by Britain, and the subsequent systemic oppression of the Maori language through the 20th century.
3.1 Precolonialism: This chapter discusses the origins of the Maori people and their language development prior to European contact.
3.2 The Treaty of Waitangi: This chapter analyzes the 1840 treaty and its negative consequences for Maori land ownership and cultural status.
3.3 The early 20th century: This chapter reviews the drastic decline of Maori speakers during the early 1900s and the rise of language revitalization movements in the 1970s and 1980s.
4. Language policies in the 1990’s and 2000’s: This chapter examines the specific government strategies and initiatives introduced to support the Maori language during this period.
4.1 Changes in language policies: This chapter details the specific policy objectives set by the Ministry of Maori Development to foster the language.
4.2 Importance of Maori language and culture: This chapter discusses efforts to raise public awareness and the use of media to promote the Maori language.
4.3 Problems: This chapter addresses ongoing social barriers and systemic issues that hinder the preservation and widespread usage of the Maori language.
5. Future prospects: This chapter looks at current strategies, such as the 2028 vision, and population growth projections to assess the future of the Maori language.
6. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes the shift in language policy and the progress made in societal attitudes toward the Maori language.
Keywords
Maori language, New Zealand, language policy, Treaty of Waitangi, language preservation, bilingualism, cultural revitalization, indigenous rights, language planning, Maori education, linguistic landscape, sociolinguistics, 21st century, language decline, language development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the development and implementation of language policies concerning the Maori language in New Zealand, particularly during the 1990s and 2000s.
Which historical events are identified as key to the language's decline?
The colonization of New Zealand, the failure to uphold the Treaty of Waitangi, and the implementation of the Native School Act are identified as primary factors in the historical suppression of the Maori language.
What is the main research question?
The research asks how the language policy concerning the Maori language changed at the turn of the 21st century in New Zealand.
What methodologies are used to discuss these changes?
The author uses a descriptive historical approach, synthesizing academic literature, government reports, and statistical data to analyze policy shifts and their societal impacts.
What is discussed in the main part of the text?
The main part covers the historical context, the emergence of revitalization programs, specific government objectives in the 90s and 2000s, and the ongoing social and structural problems facing Maori language preservation.
Which terms characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as language policy, indigenous language revitalization, cultural identity, and biculturalism.
How did the "Kia ora controversy" influence policy?
It provoked public debate and discussion in the Waitangi Tribunal, eventually contributing to the recognition of Maori as an official language of New Zealand.
What is the current goal of the Maori Language strategy mentioned?
The goal is to ensure that by 2028, the Maori language will be widely spoken by Maori and used commonly within homes and communities.
Why is language preservation important according to the author?
The author argues that protecting the language is vital because the loss of language directly leads to the loss of Maori culture and historical heritage.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2017, The Maori Language in New Zealand. Language Policies in the 1990's and 2000's, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/355741
