Okay, I'm sure you all know the definition of 'curmudgeon', but here it is anyway.
cur·mudg·eon
NOUN
a bad-tempered person, especially an old one.
In his latest blog post HERE The Curmudgeon lives up to his title.
Among other things, that I might agree with, he takes a shot at Maori language.
Personally, I love hearing these words used on National Radio. When I glance through TC's list, I realise that I now have a working knowledge of almost all of these words and hearing them frequently on the radio has really helped me. I'm looking forward to the road signs too. Let's be proud of being a bilingual country - hey, it gives our country a special identity.
Hopefully my Italian friend Antonio (from Monteforte d'Alpone) is coming to stay over the Christmas period. This will add a lot to his experience and I will try to expose him to as many of those unique Aotearoa things as I can.
Hey readers, get out there and learn Maori, or another language. It's fun and broadens your horizons.
Ciao tutti.
8 commenti:
I also like the sound of Maori being spoken correctly. I also support Te Reo and the initiatives to keep it alive. I disagree however with the assertion that we are a bilingual country. We are if you want, a multi-lingual country with mainly Pacific nations languages, Cantonese, Mandarin, Indo-European, Dravidian and a lot of other minor population languages. Maori should not dominate all of these, should not be given undue representation in national broadcasting and certainly should not be on road signage. Sheesh! (It was the same in Maori). English is the official and most used language in New Zealand.
Good on you Rob.
I'd ask - "why?".
Okay, you listed many minority languages that are spoken in Aotearoa. Sad that you missed Italian. Never mind. Anyway, Maori is the first language of our country. The people who arrived from different places around Europe didn't give a fuck about that. Most just wanted the land. They renamed Tāmaki Makaurau after some English guy who had the title of Earl of Auckland. His name was George Eden (think Eden Park) and he had nothing to do with this country. There are plenty of other examples. Christchurch was named after a snooty English college. Time to be us, not them.
So?
Beh?
Struth!
8 real comments!
well, 6 really but it's a start.
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