The Oxford English Dictionary contains 47 Maori words

The Foundation thus shows the “profound and lasting influence” of this language on New Zealand English. Since the 1970s, Māori has seen a new boost in this country, where it is already considered an official language.

The Oxford Dictionary, which defines itself as a reference for the English language, has added 47 words or expressions in Maori, the language spoken by the people of the same name, who are indigenous to New Zealand.

Through these additions, the foundation said it recognized the “profound and lasting impact” of this indigenous language, also called Te reo, on the language of New Zealand. Although some words were already in the volume, this change reflects “the large number of Māori words that have become part of the vocabulary of Māori and Pākehā (non-Māori) English speakers”, According to a statement from Oxford University Pressdictionary editor.

“Kia Aura ihua”

The dictionary’s editors say they “searched through archives, novels, newspapers and even Twitter” to find examples and uses for each word, Oxford University Press says.

Thus, New Zealanders will see in their English dictionary the Maori greeting of Kia Ura e Hua, which means “Hello, my friend.” We also find words like koha, gift, or koreru, conversational.

however, As mentioned WatchmanThe dictionary does not spell Maori words with their felines, that character in the form of a bar over certain letters, usually used to denote a long sound or a double vowel.

Words related to the earth and the environment

Other novelties include words that sum up Maori concepts and have no direct equivalent in English, such as whenua – land, especially the native land of Maori – and rāhui, which is defined as a formal or ritual prohibition to enter an area or perform an activity, usually enacted temporarily to protect a resource.

In fact, several other words in this modernization are used in Maori contexts to refer to land or an environment, such as turangawaewae, meaning the place where one belongs or to which one has established a right of residence or kaitiaki, used to refer to a guardian or custodian of the natural resources of an environment or place .

English and Maori combinations

Te reo Māori is already an official language in New Zealand. Since the 1970s, it has seen a new impetus as a result of campaigns led by linguistic activists and politicians.

One of the new additions – taihoa, which tells someone to be patient or wait – represents a mixture of English and Māori linguistic sensibilities. Many New Zealanders pronounce the word “tie-ho” — and many may not have known until recent years that they were using the word Māori, he explains Watchman.

“It’s a great example of something that can only make sense in New Zealand, that can only be made in New Zealand,” said John McAllister, professor of applied linguistics at Victoria University of Wellington. “I like it because it brings back the history of this country and this community, and people use it without knowing where it came from.”