July 22nd, 2009
Filed under: University | Tags: language, māori, University
Kōrero Māori - Talk Māori
For my Diploma in Early Childhood Education I am required to take a Māori language course. In Māori culture greeting others is very important. It is an opportunity for people to show respect, through the language used and its accompanying actions. For this reason a bulk of my grade for this course is an oral evaluation of my mihi. A mihi is a formal Māori greeting, which gives thanks to the earth and local surroundings as well as everyone involved. It then goes on to introduce oneself through describing the area in which you grew up; such as naming local mountain and rivers. You then name your grandparents and parents and finally yourself.
Today, I had my oral test for my mihi. It went ok, it could’ve gone better, but all in all I was quite happy with it. To help prepare for the test I recorded myself saying my mihi, so I thought I might as well share it with you all. Maybe it will be your first time hearing the Māori language, I hope I do it justice.
If you would like to learn more Māori, you can visit Kōrero Māori or Māori/English Dictionary.
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