“ARAMO”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18823, 13 July 1923, Page 2

“ARAMO”

MAORI AS IT IS SPOKEN. A PLEA FOR PURITY. An interesting discussion took place on Wednesday evening- at the Wanganui Technical College Board meeting on the following motion moved by Mr Fred H. Allen: “That all students of the Technical College be taught to pronounce Maori names correctly.” Mr Ailen thought it a matter of importance that the correct pronunciation oil Maori names should be preserved. It was a beautiful language, and it was in danger of being mutilated, even by Maoris themselves. His attention had been drawn to the subject by the following paragraph from a Waikato paper: "The faulty pronunciation of Maori names so common among white people recently impelled a gathering of Hamilton householders to pass a resolution that all students at the Training College should be taught to pronounce Maori names correctly, so that they in turn might be able to teach the same in private schools. The suggestion was sent on to the Eeducation Board by the Hamilton West School Committee, the board deciding to refer the matter to the principal of the Training College.” Continuing, he said that as a lover of the beautiful Maori language with its soft, liquid sounds, he deplored the practice common to all citizens, and various Government officials in post offices and on the railways, of destroying the beauty of the native words. Mr W. Luxford seconded the motion. He thought it was a step in the right direction. The language should not be allowed to lose its purity. It would be a simple matter to teach, and a litle tuition would make a great difference. Mr J. C. Richardson agreed with the motion. He had heard the commonest Maori words mispronounced. Aramoho was called “Aramo”; Upokongaro, “Yupukkernarrer.” Ho considered that there was more in the subject than appeared on the surface, owing to the different dialects of the different Maori tribes, and he illustrated his point by counting in Maori—Kotahi, erua, etoro—as some tribes say it, and then as others pronounce it.

Mr J. Patterson was inclined to be humorous, and likened the situation to an Englishman trying to talk Scotch.

Mr C. Duggan opposed the motion. He said that the syllabus was already overcrowded. Anyhow the problem of the evolution of the Maori race was to be considered, and then what would it all amount to? Who would then be the authority on correct pronouncement? There were differences of opinion even at present. The Maori endeavours to speak in English as quickly as possible. English was the language of commerce. It were better to teach the pupils to pronounce English properly. Mr Allen replied by saying that the Government gave a Maori name for all towns If possible. He said that as far as dialects go there were only two, the Wanganui dialect, which was an inferior one, and the East Coast dialect.

“What is the correct way to pronounce Wanganui?” was interjected. Mr Allen gaye demonstrations which were more suited by ear than by print. Mr C. P. Brown considered that it was an instinct of scholarship to pronounce Maori correctly, and thought that teachers would be pleased to teach the correct pronunciation. The motion was carried.