New Zealand English is one of the most closely studied national varieties of English outside the USA and UK, and a source of significance for the dialect differentiation and historical evolution of English. Most of the work has been done in the relatively short period of about 15 years compared with the longer time frame of studies in British and American English. One reason for this is that New Zealand English has, from its beginning, benefited from significant co-operative and collaborative activity among New Zealand linguists (see Kuiper, 2003). This paper gives an overview of how this certain variety of the language emerged and changed until today. It also deals with its specific characteristics in comparison with other varieties, especially varieties of the Southern Hemisphere. New Zealand was first discovered by Polynesian explorers and settled by AD 1150. It was
rediscovered by Abel Tasman, a Dutch, in 1642, and was given its name by Dutch geographers
by the end of that century. Its language contact situation with English took place when Captain
James Cook, who claimed it for the British Crown, visited New Zealand with H.M.S Endeavor in
1769 (see Macalister, 2006; Bauer, 1994). From about 1792 onwards European traders, whalers
and sealers operated from the coasts of New Zealand. English was probably the lingua franca of
this region.
Since 1840, when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between representatives of the British
government and a number of Maori chiefs, English attached its importance. More and more
Pakeha, as the Maori called settlers of European origin, came in three periods of mass migration
between 1840 and 1880. Most settlers were upper working class and lower middle class and
largely British (see Bauer, 1994). There were several motives why they left their home-countries
to start a new life so far away. An overriding belief was that travelling to this distant country
would enable people to better themselves and provide better prospects for their children, without
abandoning their British roots. Their aim was the creation of a new Britain in the South Pacific in
the context of British law, religion, education, social values and practices (see Gordon and
Sudbury, 2002). Another reason was the hope of becoming wealthy. Miners came, mainly from
Australia, enforced by the hope to find gold since it had been discovered in 1861 in Otago, South
Island.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The First Settlers
3. The Development of New Zealand English:
3.1 Influences of English Dialects
3.2 Influences of Other Languages
3.3 Maori Influence
4. Features of New Zealand English:
4.1 Vocabulary
4.2 Pronunciation
4.3 Grammatical features
5. Similarities with other Varieties
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the historical emergence and evolution of New Zealand English, while analyzing its distinct linguistic characteristics and comparing them with other varieties of the Southern Hemisphere.
- Historical colonization and settlement patterns in New Zealand.
- The influence of English dialects and Maori on the development of the language.
- Key characteristics in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.
- Linguistic similarities and shared features with other Southern Hemisphere varieties.
- The impact of American and Australian influences on contemporary usage.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Influences of English Dialects
The most important ingredients in the mixture that was to lead to the development of a new and distinctive form of English in New Zealand were the dialects and accents of the language brought to New Zealand by speakers of English who came for the most part from England, Scotland, Ireland and Australia. Census figures indicate that the proportions of settlers coming from different Anglophone areas to New Zealand in the period up to 1881 were as follows: England 49%, Scotland 22%, Ireland 20%, Australia 7%, Wales 1%, N. America 1% (see Trudgill, Gordon, Lewis and Maclagan, 2000).
Most of the early English settlers came from the West Country, which had a tradition of emigration, e.g. New Plymouth settlers were brought by the Plymouth Company in 1841-1843 from Devon and Cornwall. Others came from Surrey, Essex and Kent – near but not from London. Many Scottish and Irish settlers were from around major urban areas, i.e. Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast and Dublin. A good deal of the British settlers had agricultural or laboring backgrounds (see Gordon and Trudgill, ‘English input to New Zealand’). This is reflected in the dialects they spoke and the mixture that makes up the major part of New Zealand English now.
The influence of Australian English was not that much at that times, and that of North America not worth mentioning, but both have brought their influence to bear over the past few decades. “There are many lexical items which occur both in New Zealand English and Australian English… But while shared words used to be British in origin, they are nowadays more often evidence of American influence on the vocabulary of both countries” (Holmes, 1998).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents New Zealand English as a significant subject of linguistic study and outlines the paper's goal of exploring its emergence and characteristics.
2. The First Settlers: Details the historical stages of migration to New Zealand and the motivations of the settlers who sought to establish a new Britain in the South Pacific.
3. The Development of New Zealand English:: Analyzes the foundational influences on the variety, specifically focusing on immigrant dialect mixtures, foreign language contact, and the unique role of Maori.
4. Features of New Zealand English:: Examines the linguistic profile of the variety by highlighting specific vocabulary, phonetic patterns, and grammatical structures that distinguish it from standard British English.
5. Similarities with other Varieties: Explores commonalities between Southern Hemisphere Englishes resulting from shared dialect sources and historical drift.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes the current state of New Zealand English, emphasizing its innovative nature and the continuing role of Maori borrowings and international influences.
Keywords
New Zealand English, Dialect, Maori, Settlement History, Linguistic Evolution, Vocabulary, Pronunciation, Grammar, Southern Hemisphere, Language Contact, Migration, Colonialism, Phonology, Australian English, Language Variation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper focuses on the development, historical background, and linguistic features of New Zealand English as a distinct national variety of the English language.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The text covers historical settlement patterns, the influence of various British dialects, the impact of the Maori language, and comparative analyses with Australian and American English.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The primary goal is to provide an overview of how New Zealand English emerged, how it has changed over time, and how it compares to other varieties in the Southern Hemisphere.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The paper relies on historical document analysis, demographic census data regarding early settlers, and linguistic synthesis of research conducted by scholars such as Bauer, Trudgill, and Gordon.
What content is presented in the main body?
The main body details the periods of mass migration, the specific linguistic contributions from English, Scottish, and Irish settlers, the role of Maori terminology, and specific lexical, phonetic, and grammatical characteristics.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include New Zealand English, Maori influence, dialect mixture, historical linguistics, Southern Hemisphere Englishes, and linguistic evolution.
How did the Maori language specifically impact New Zealand English?
Maori has provided a significant number of loanwords, particularly for naming local flora and fauna, and its usage has evolved from a historical interest to a reflection of a living culture.
What is the significance of the "Wakefield Settlements"?
They represent the organized planned settlements during the first major period of immigration in the 1840s and 1850s, shaping the geographic distribution of early English speakers in New Zealand.
Does New Zealand English reflect American or British influences more strongly?
While the variety has deep British roots, it shows increasing American influence in both vocabulary and pronunciation, despite some negative attitudes toward American culture held by younger generations.
- Citation du texte
- Ismail Durgut (Auteur), 2007, New Zealand English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/90949
