THE MAORI TONGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 221, 18 September 1930, Page 8

THE MAORI TONGUE.

PLEA FOR PRESERVATION

DANGER OF : EXTINCTION,

'; A plea for the preservation of the Maori language was made by Mr. P.. Smyth in the course of an addrcjss on the- "Evolution of Written Maori" at the University College last evening. The lecture was delivered under the auspices of the Maori race section of the Auckland Institute'arid Museum. .

' The lecturer intimated that it was his desire to help perpetuate the language, and. he. was willing to give free tuition after November to anyone wishing to learn Maori.' "A suprisingly large number of people are anxious to learn the language," he said, |'but have not had the opportunity." Mr. Smyth went on to say that pure Maori was almost a myth, and unless more sympathy was,shown and a greater effort . was made the language was doomed to ■ extinction. The ; education authorities had done practically nothing to help save the pure Maori tongue, and no effort' was made by Europeans, and even Maoris,: to p'ronomipe place names correctly. Maori was a subject for public examinations;; but no official '■provision was made for teaching.it. J '

The 'Maori tongue was recognised as a inosti ctiphbnious dne, : and its music waS continuaily. ' commented, upon.. Although harshness had developed when its oral''beauty had, been transferred to print in an alphabet supplied from, a foreign tongue, with the experience of years the harshness had softened. '':If you want' to gain the heart of the Maori," said Mr. Smyth, "learn his language, for it is very dear to him."