Focusing on both pronunciation (how the words are said correctly) and enunciation (the clarity of delivery) will ensure the karakia flows and has rhythm.
Te Ao Māori has a rich oral tradition.
Can you recall any passages that you have learnt by rote and can recite from memory?
It could be a prayer, a poem, or some Shakespeare from high school.
Let’s revisit the first karakia we learnt last session. Let’s see if we pronounce it with the right breaks between vowel sounds.
Remember, the Māori language doesn’t have consonant clusters (a group or sequence of consonants that appear together in a syllable without a vowel between them).
'Mau/ri // o/ho
Mau/ri // tū
Mau/ri // o/ra
Ki // a // tā/tou
Hau/mi //e, Hui // e
Tāi/ki // e!'
|
Vowels |
Short |
Long |
|
|
a |
as in |
about |
far |
|
e |
as in |
enter |
bed |
|
i |
as in |
eat |
sheep |
|
o |
as in |
awful |
pork |
|
u |
as in |
put |
boot |
Te reo contains eight consonants: h, k, m, n, p, r, t, w.
It also has two digraphs (two letters that combine to form one sound): wh, ng.
The ‘ng’ digraph (representing the combined sound of two consonants) is pronounced as it sounds in the English word ‘singer'.
The ‘wh’ digraph is usually pronounced as an English ‘ f’ sound.
Now back to the karakia Whakataka te Hau, pay special attention to the long vowel sounds indicated by the tohutō (macron) and the short vowel sounds. To help with your pronunciation, try breaking the words up into their respective syllables.
With your kaiako, take turns delivering a line, each with special attention on the pronunciation and emphasis on those long vowel sounds.
Whakataka te Hau
Kaiako: Whakataka te hau ki te uru
Tauira: Whakataka te hau ki te tonga
Kaiako: Kia mākinakina ki uta
Tauira: Kia mātaratara ki tai
Kaiako: E hī ake ana te atakura
Tauira: He tio, he huka, he hau hū
Tīhei mauri ora!
Here are some pātai (questions) to support your whaiwhakaaro (reflection).
| How do I say/pronounce ____ in Māori? | He aha te kupu Māori _____? |
| What does ______ mean? | He aha te kupu ____? |
| Can you repeat that? |
Kōrero mai anō? |
| Is my pronunciation right? | Kei te tika taku whakahua i te kupu ___? |
| Why? | He aha i pērā ai? |
| What made it so? | Nā te aha i pērā / pēnā ai? |
| What is your thinking? | He aha tō whakaaro? |
| What is your knowledge? | He aha tō mōhio? |