New Zealand English is the variety of English that is spoken by the roughly 4 million inhabitants of New Zealand – a South Pacific state which consists of two main islands simply called the North and the South Island. New Zealand is a bicultural country with both English and Māori being its official languages. Since the British colonisation of the young state in 1840, these two languages have been coexisting side by side and, in consequence, have influenced each other. One result of this long-standing and intensive language contact is the incorporation of Māori loans into New Zealand English (NZE), which distinguishes it most distinctly from other national standards, as no other variety of English shares this feature with NZE. Thus, the use and acceptance of Māori borrowings in NZE will be the main subject of this paper.
In the first part of this paper, the position of NZE among other national varieties of English will be discussed. This will be followed by a closer examination of the languages that have participated in the process of borrowing in NZ. Since borrowing is a phenomenon resulting from language contact, the third chapter will give an overview about the extra- and intralinguistic factors that form the frame for the process of borrowing. On the background of those conditions the use and acceptance of Māori borrowings in NZE will then be comprehensively discussed. There are remarkable differences in the process of lexical transfer as well as in the use of the Māori loanwords at different stages in New Zealand’s history. Therefore, the history of English borrowing from Māori will be examined according to these stages in the fourth part. Following this, the present use of these loans will be investigated by the data deriving from a pilot study which was carried out in 2005/2006 and is based on a sample of 40 subjects living in New Zealand. The findings of this study will then be compared to a German control group to determine to which extent Māori loans have gained some international currency.
It is my hope to contribute to the previous research on Māori borrowings in New Zealand English by giving a comprehensive account of both the history as well as the current state of the use and acceptance of these borrowings in the English spoken in New Zealand.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- New Zealand English as a variety of World English
- The development of distinctive English varieties
- The Antipodes
- Languages in New Zealand
- New Zealand English
- Linguistic research on NZE
- Grammar and spelling
- Lexicon
- Phonology
- Variation within NZE
- Māori English
- Te reo Māori (the Māori language)
- Language contact phenomena
- Language contact and bilingualism
- Consequences of language contact: contact phenomena
- Analysing contact phenomena: the Matrix Language Frame model
- Types of contact phenomena
- Lexical transfer: borrowing
- Defining the term ‘borrowing’
- Classification of borrowed items
- Assimilation processes
- Motivations for borrowing
- Borrowing vs. Code-switching
- The history of English borrowing from Māori
- The arrival of the Māori people in NZ
- European colonisation: the first wave of English borrowing from Māori
- Sociohistorical background
- Pre-colonial intake: First language contact
- The influence of British missionaries on te reo Māori
- The colonisation of New Zealand
- Lexical transfer and the use of Māori loanwords
- New Zealand becomes a nation
- Sociohistorical background
- Use of Māori borrowings
- Towards an acceptance of Māori borrowings in the 20th century
- The Māori Renaissance: the second wave of English borrowing from Māori
- Sociohistorical background
- Motivations for renewed borrowing from Māori
- Categorisation of Māori borrowings
- Who uses Māori borrowings?
- Anglicisation and its constraints
- Māori words used by Māori speakers of NZE: Borrowing or CS?
- The use of Māori borrowings in present NZE
- Aim of this study – a Pilot Study
- Method
- Māori borrowings listed in the pilot study
- Subjects
- Results
- Letter sample
- Wordlist
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- International use of Māori borrowings in English – illustrated by a German sample
- Summary
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the history and current state of Māori loanword usage and acceptance within New Zealand English (NZE). It investigates the linguistic and sociohistorical factors influencing this process, comparing NZE to other English varieties and exploring the international spread of these loanwords. * The development and characteristics of New Zealand English. * The history of language contact between English and Māori in New Zealand. * The processes of lexical borrowing and assimilation. * The sociolinguistic factors influencing the use and acceptance of Māori loanwords. * A comparative analysis of Māori loanword usage in New Zealand and internationally.Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introduction sets the stage for the paper, establishing New Zealand's bicultural context and highlighting the unique position of Māori loanwords in distinguishing New Zealand English from other varieties. It outlines the paper's structure, promising an examination of NZE within the broader context of World Englishes, a detailed analysis of language contact phenomena, specifically borrowing, and a historical overview of Māori loanword integration into NZE, culminating in the presentation of a pilot study's findings and a comparison with a German control group. The introduction effectively frames the research question: understanding the use and acceptance of Māori borrowings in New Zealand English. 1. New Zealand English as a variety of World English: This chapter establishes New Zealand English (NZE) as a distinct variety of World English, discussing its development and unique characteristics. It explores the historical and linguistic factors that have contributed to NZE’s distinctiveness and sets the context for understanding the later chapters' focus on Māori borrowings within this variety. The discussion of NZE’s position in the broader landscape of World Englishes provides a crucial foundation for understanding the significance of its unique lexical features derived from Māori. 2. Languages in New Zealand: This chapter provides an overview of the linguistic landscape of New Zealand, focusing on New Zealand English, Māori English, and Te Reo Māori. It lays the groundwork for understanding the language contact situation that has led to the incorporation of Māori vocabulary into NZE. The chapter analyzes the structure and characteristics of each language, highlighting areas of potential interaction and influence. This thorough description forms the necessary foundation for analyzing the subsequent chapters’ discussions of language contact and borrowing. 3. Language contact phenomena: This chapter delves into the theoretical framework of language contact and bilingualism, emphasizing the concept of lexical borrowing as a key outcome. It introduces the Matrix Language Frame model as a tool for analyzing borrowing and classifies various types of contact phenomena. This lays a solid theoretical foundation for understanding the specific mechanisms driving the adoption of Māori words into New Zealand English. By defining borrowing, classifying borrowed items, and examining assimilation processes, the chapter prepares the reader to understand the detailed history and present-day usage of Māori loanwords. 4. The history of English borrowing from Māori: This chapter provides a comprehensive historical account of English borrowing from Māori, examining the processes of lexical transfer across different stages of New Zealand's history. It analyzes the sociohistorical contexts, motivations, and linguistic consequences of borrowing, highlighting significant periods such as European colonization and the Māori Renaissance. This chapter offers an in-depth analysis of the evolution of Māori loanword use, demonstrating the complex interplay between language, culture, and power dynamics within New Zealand society. 5. The use of Māori borrowings in present NZE: This chapter presents the findings of a pilot study conducted in 2005/2006 on the current usage of Māori borrowings in NZE. It details the methodology, sample population, and results, offering insights into the present-day acceptance and integration of these loanwords within the everyday speech of New Zealanders. The detailed analysis of the results, including letter samples and wordlists, provides empirical data to support the conclusions about the prevalence and usage of Māori borrowings within the context of contemporary New Zealand English. This forms a critical empirical section of the paper. 6. International use of Māori borrowings in English – illustrated by a German sample: This chapter compares the findings of the New Zealand-based pilot study to a control group in Germany, assessing the international currency of Māori borrowings. This comparative analysis broadens the scope of the study, exploring the extent to which these words have transcended their local context to gain wider usage in the international English-speaking community. The German sample serves as a crucial comparative data point to assess the global reach of Māori loanwords and their degree of integration beyond the New Zealand context.Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
New Zealand English, Māori loanwords, language contact, lexical borrowing, bilingualism, code-switching, sociolinguistics, language history, New Zealand history, Māori Renaissance, pilot study, corpus linguistics.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Preview of New Zealand English and Māori Loanwords
What is the overall topic of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of the history and current state of Māori loanword usage and acceptance within New Zealand English (NZE). It analyzes the linguistic and sociohistorical factors influencing this process, comparing NZE to other English varieties and exploring the international spread of these loanwords.
What topics are covered in the Table of Contents?
The table of contents covers a range of topics, starting with an introduction and an overview of New Zealand English as a World English variety. It then delves into the languages of New Zealand (including Māori and Māori English), exploring language contact phenomena, specifically lexical borrowing. A significant portion is dedicated to the history of English borrowing from Māori, broken down into historical periods. The document includes a detailed description of a pilot study on current Māori borrowing usage in NZE and compares this usage to a German sample, concluding with a summary.
What are the main objectives and key themes?
The main objective is to provide a comprehensive overview of the history and current state of Māori loanword usage in New Zealand English. Key themes include the development of New Zealand English, the history of language contact between English and Māori, the processes of lexical borrowing and assimilation, sociolinguistic factors influencing loanword use and acceptance, and a comparative analysis of Māori loanword usage in New Zealand and internationally.
What are the chapter summaries?
Each chapter summary provides a concise overview of its contents. The Introduction sets the scene, Chapter 1 establishes NZE's position within World Englishes, Chapter 2 outlines the linguistic landscape of New Zealand, Chapter 3 details language contact theory, Chapter 4 gives a historical account of Māori loanword adoption, Chapter 5 presents a pilot study's findings on current usage, and Chapter 6 compares this usage to a German sample.
What methodology is used in the pilot study?
The pilot study's methodology, detailed in Chapter 5, is not fully explained in the preview but is mentioned to include analysis of letter samples and wordlists to assess current Māori borrowing usage in NZE.
What is the significance of the German sample?
The German sample, analyzed in Chapter 6, serves as a control group to assess the international spread and usage of Māori loanwords beyond the New Zealand context.
What are the key words associated with this research?
Key words include New Zealand English, Māori loanwords, language contact, lexical borrowing, bilingualism, code-switching, sociolinguistics, language history, New Zealand history, Māori Renaissance, pilot study, and corpus linguistics.
What is the overall conclusion of the document (as previewed)?
The preview does not provide a full conclusion but implies that the research will offer insights into the historical development and contemporary state of Māori loanword integration into New Zealand English, as well as their international reach.
Who is the intended audience for this document?
The intended audience appears to be academics and researchers interested in sociolinguistics, language contact, the history of New Zealand English, and the role of Māori language in New Zealand's bicultural context.
- Quote paper
- Lysann Hofmann (Author), 2006, Use and acceptance of Maori borrowings in New Zealand English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/80287