Use and acceptance of Maori borrowings in New Zealand English

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. New Zealand English as a variety of World English

1.1 The development of distinctive English varieties

1.2 The Antipodes

2. Languages in New Zealand

2.1 New Zealand English

2.1.1 Linguistic research on NZE

2.1.2 Grammar and spelling

2.1.3 Lexicon

2.1.4 Phonology

2.1.5 Variation within NZE

2.2 Māori English

2.3 Te reo Māori (the Māori language)

3. Language contact phenomena

3.1 Language contact and bilingualism

3.2 Consequences of language contact: contact phenomena

3.2.1 Analysing contact phenomena: the Matrix Language Frame model

3.2.2 Types of contact phenomena

3.3 Lexical transfer: borrowing

3.3.1 Defining the term ‘borrowing’

3.3.2 Classification of borrowed items

3.3.3 Assimilation processes

3.3.4 Motivations for borrowing

3.3.5 Borrowing vs. Code-switching

4. The history of English borrowing from Māori

4.1 The arrival of the Māori people in NZ

4.2 European colonisation: the first wave of English borrowing from Māori

4.2.1 Sociohistorical background

4.2.1.1 Pre-colonial intake: First language contact

4.2.1.2 The influence of British missionaries on te reo Māori

4.2.1.3 The colonisation of New Zealand

4.2.2 Lexical transfer and the use of Māori loanwords

4.3 New Zealand becomes a nation

4.3.1 Sociohistorical background

4.3.2 Use of Māori borrowings

4.3.3 Towards an acceptance of Māori borrowings in the 20th century

4.4 The Māori Renaissance: the second wave of English borrowing from Māori

4.4.1 Sociohistorical background

4.4.2 Motivations for renewed borrowing from Māori

4.4.3 Categorisation of Māori borrowings

4.4.4 Who uses Māori borrowings ?

4.4.5 Anglicisation and its constraints

4.4.6 Māori words used by Māori speakers of NZE: Borrowing or CS ?

5. The use of Māori borrowings in present NZE – a Pilot Study

5.1 Aim of this study

5.2 Method

5.2.1 Māori borrowings listed in the pilot study

5.2.2 Subjects

5.3 Results

5.3.1 Letter sample

5.3.2 Wordlist

5.4 Discussion

5.5 Conclusion

6. International use of Māori borrowings in English – illustrated by a German sample

Objectives & Core Topics

This academic paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the historical development, current usage, and social acceptance of Māori loanwords within New Zealand English (NZE). It investigates how language contact between English and the indigenous Māori language has uniquely shaped the New Zealand variety of English, and examines the sociolinguistic motivations behind the shifting patterns of lexical borrowing over time.

• The history and evolution of Māori loanwords in New Zealand English.
• Sociolinguistic factors driving lexical borrowing and language contact.
• The impact of the Māori Renaissance on current usage patterns.
• Empirical analysis of Māori loanword knowledge and usage via a pilot study.
• Distinction between active and passive vocabulary regarding Māori-derived terms.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Introduction: Provides an overview of the bilingual nature of New Zealand and the significance of Māori loanwords in distinguishing New Zealand English as a national variety.

1. New Zealand English as a variety of World English: Explores the historical spread of English globally and the development of distinctive colonial varieties, including the specific linguistic context of the Antipodes.

2. Languages in New Zealand: Examines the linguistic research on New Zealand English, its grammatical and phonetic features, and the distinct dialectal emergence of Māori English.

3. Language contact phenomena: Discusses the theoretical framework of bilingualism and the sociolinguistic processes, such as borrowing and code-switching, that occur when languages coexist.

4. The history of English borrowing from Māori: Traces the chronological stages of borrowing from Māori, from initial colonial contact through to the revival of Māori culture in the late 20th century.

5. The use of Māori borrowings in present NZE – a Pilot Study: Presents empirical findings from a 2005/2006 pilot study regarding the knowledge and usage of Māori loanwords among different demographic groups in New Zealand.

6. International use of Māori borrowings in English – illustrated by a German sample: Compares the local usage in New Zealand with a German sample to determine the international recognition of specific Māori loanwords.

Keywords

New Zealand English, Māori loanwords, language contact, lexical borrowing, sociolinguistics, NZE, Māori Renaissance, bilingualism, te reo Māori, Pākehā, linguistic assimilation, identity, Antipodes, pilot study.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this research paper primarily about?

The paper focuses on the integration, usage, and social acceptance of Māori loanwords within New Zealand English, exploring how these words have shaped the national identity and lexicon of the country.

What are the main thematic fields covered?

The study spans history, sociolinguistics, language contact theory, and empirical research, analyzing how social status, ethnicity, and historical events influence language borrowing.

What is the central research question?

The core objective is to analyze the history and current state of Māori borrowings in NZE, specifically investigating the factors that influence their adoption and level of integration into everyday speech.

Which scientific methodology is utilized?

The author combines a theoretical analysis of language contact phenomena with a pilot study involving 40 subjects in New Zealand, supplemented by corpus-based comparisons and a control group study in Germany.

What is covered in the main section of the paper?

The main sections delve into the historical stages of borrowing from the colonial era to the present Māori Renaissance, the analysis of specific loanwords, and the social dynamics between Māori and Pākehā populations.

Which keywords best characterize the study?

Key terms include New Zealand English, Māori loanwords, language contact, sociolinguistics, and cultural identity.

Does the study differentiate between speakers based on their ethnic background?

Yes, the empirical study explicitly categorizes subjects into groups such as Māori, Pākehā, and immigrants, finding that those who identify as Māori often demonstrate a higher knowledge and more frequent use of Māori terms.

What role does the Māori Renaissance play in the paper?

The author identifies the cultural revival of the 1980s as a "second wave" of borrowing, characterized by a shift from "need" borrowings (for flora/fauna) to "identity" borrowings (related to Māori culture and society).

Are there regional variations in the use of loanwords within New Zealand?

The pilot study investigates geographical distribution, noting unexpected trends in the knowledge and use of loanwords between the North and South Islands.