Use it or lose it: Maori language in peril

[Harold Schiffman]

Forwarded from edling at ccat.sas.upenn.edu

Massey News

Use it or lose it: Maori language in peril

New Zealand has reached a critical stage in preserving the Maori language,
University researchers say, warning New Zealand must "use it or lose it".

A team from the Te Putahi-a-Toi, the School of Maori Studies, is working on
the
Te Puni Kokiri project He Kainga Koreroreo, to encourage families to use Te
Reo
in everyday life. Preliminary findings indicate that most whanau have either
a
limited or average level of Maori language ability, and that only one
percent
of Maori are confident to always speak in Te Reo.

Researcher Dr Rangi Matamua says use of language in everyday life is
particularly critical.

Full story:
http://masseynews.massey.ac.nz/2007/Press_Releases/07-31-07b.html



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