What About Those Macrons
That little line sitting above some of the vowels in Mori words is called a macron. A macron denotes a doubling of the vowel sound, as seen in the word Mori.
Unfortunately, commonly-used Mori terms have been spelled without the macrons they needed for many decades. Recently, theres been an increased effort across New Zealand to get Mori pronunciation right. Now, across the country people are trying to add them to words where they have long been missed.
This means that when youre driving along New Zealands State Highway 1 you may notice that some signs pointing to Lake Taup have the macron, while others havent had it added yet. Its a national work in progress.
More Suggestions And Sources
- CollinsAhlgren, M., ‘Aspects of New Zealand Sign Language.’ Unpublished. PhD thesis, Victoria University of Wellington, 1989.
- McKee, R. L., People of the Eye. Stories from the Deaf World. Bridget Williams Books, Wellington, 2001.
- McKee, R. L., New Zealand Sign Language: A Reference Grammar . Bridget Williams Books, Wellington, 2015.
- McKee, R. & McKee, D., ‘Old Signs, New Signs, Whose Signs? Sociolinguistic Variation in the NZSL Lexicon’. Sign Language Studies, vol 11, no.4, 2011, pp.485527.
Dairy Lets Go To The Dairy And Grab A Pie
The dairy is also a corner store where you can grab snacks, a mince and cheese pie and just about anything else you need!
As long as you have these Kiwi slang words sorted you can start talking like the locals! Just dont ask them to say the sentence my deck is very slippery. You may get a hiding. Tell me below what is your favourite New Zealand slang words. Do you think you can master Kiwi English before your visit?
Need accommodation in New Zealand? Make your visit to New Zealand quicker and effortless by checking outeTA New Zealand. Theres a new electronic visa waiver which launched in October 2019.
You May Like: How To Say Im Hungry In Sign Language
Resources For Learning More New Zealand Slang
This list of 30 essential slang words is just the starting point in your learning Kiwi slang journey. An excellent resource for learning more is the New Zealand Slang website, which is solely dedicated to sharing Kiwi slang words and their meanings.
For people planning on moving to New Zealand for study or those who want to understand better the local language and culture, the NauMai NZ website has a great page about the local culture and lifestyle.
Now get out there and put your New Zealand slang terms to use!
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere.
Deaf Education And Nzsl
NZSL is closely linked to deaf schools. It can be assumed that NZSL originated in the colonys first residential school for deaf children, which opened in Sumner, Christchurch, in 1880. The Education Act 1877 required all children to attend school except for those with disabilities. In 1878, MP William Rolleston, a future minister of education, argued that deaf children should be educated locally rather than sent to deaf schools in Australia.
Speech training at Sumner School of the Deaf in the 1950s, a central part of the curriculum. All hands are firmly clasped on the desk no signing was allowed. van Asch Deaf Education Centre.
The government decided to open a residential school for the deaf in Christchurch, and Gerrit van Asch from the Netherlands was appointed director. Van Asch was a proponent of the oralist teaching method , which focused on teaching lip-reading and speaking. This was considered a modern approach to deaf education, in contrast to the older French approach, in which deaf students were successfully taught literacy and other subjects through the medium of sign language.
During the 1960s, many babies were born deaf as a result of maternal rubella epidemics. Deaf units were opened in schools around the country so children could receive special education closer to home. Many children in this period moved between a deaf unit at primary school level and then a residential deaf high school where they shared signs with teenage peers.
Also Check: Abc Alphabet Sign Language
New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern Signs In Nzsl To Celebrate Nzsl Week
The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, used New Zealand Sign Language in a video to recognize and celebrate NZSL Week. The video was posted by an organization, Deaf Aotearoa.
Its a nice display of respect for NZSL from the countrys leader, who won the worlds respect and admiration for her leadership in response to the Christchurch attacks. She regularly gives press conferees with a NZSL interpreter and the ripple effects of her example has reached lawmakers around the world. Last week a Canadian senator said she noticed the NZSL interpreter during a testimony on ASL/LSQ recognition. Theres a global impact.
The President of Deaf Aotearoa, Oliver Ferguson, said they work closely with the NZ government to advocate for improved access and services for Deaf people, which includes raising awareness of NZSL, changing attitudes, and removing barriers.
He explained a bit of history and context behind the week.
“Deaf Aotearoa established NZSL Week in 2007 and initially funded this via a mix of charity grants and public money. In the last few years NZSL Week has been funded by the Governments NZSL Board annual funding allocation and the Ministry of Education. As NZSL is an official language of New Zealand, Deaf Aotearoa believe NZSL Week should receive ongoing and permanent funding, similarly to Maori Language Week funding.]
Thank you for sharing, Oliver.
Clip of PM Ardern: http://bit.ly/2DTMKaV
More info on Deaf Aotearoa: http://deaf.org.nz/
Acceptance Of Signing In Deaf Education
During the 1970s, parents, deaf people and some education professionals became dissatisfied with the poor outcomes resulting from focusing on speech training at the expense of communication, learning and self-esteem. Following their lobbying of education authorities, a system called Australasian Signed English was introduced in 1979 as part of a new American approach called Total Communication, in which signing was combined with speaking. Although this was an artificial method of signing, it gave deaf children and teachers permission to communicate with signs an added visual support for learning spoken and written language.
As it was generally believed in the 1970s that deaf adults in New Zealand had no local sign language, Australasian Signed English consisted mainly of Auslan signs. These soon spread into the adult community, expanding the lexicon and replacing some traditional NZSL signs some early New Zealand signs are now used only by a few older people. This intervention increased the similarity between modern NZSL and Auslan, although they remain distinct varieties. Deaf schools were important settings for the development and transmission of NZSL, which was formally accepted as a language in education in the early 1990s.
Angela Murray, NZSL interpreter, working in a mainstream classroom with a deaf student. Fairfax Media.
You May Like: How To Pair Widex Hearing Aids To Iphone
How Can I Learn New Zealand Sign Language
There are several online resources you can use to learn NZSL.
Learn New Zealand Sign Language This site offers an online course to do at your own pace.NZSL4U Learn New Zealand sign language in person or onlineUsign Classes run by NZSL tutor in peron or online, 1-on-1 or in groups.The Online Dictionary of New Zealand Sign Language On this site, you can search by English or te reo words to find NZSL signs and example sentences, as well as how to finger spell and use numbers.
NZSL classes for the workplace Deaf Aotearoa NZ. This course provides your workplace with an understanding of relevant New Zealand Sign Language vocabulary to increase your ability to effectively communicate with your Deaf clients and customers.Merge NZSL classes at different levels run as evening classes or online.First Signs Supports the learning of New Zealand Sign Language for family and whnau of deaf or hard-of-hearing children aged 05 years.Sign Ninja This is an interactive, free, online game to help you learn, practice and explore NZSL. It is compatible with computers, tablets and smartphones.
Lets Begin With The Common Phrases
Before getting into the list you should know that learning a language is no piece of cake. If you want to learn Maori, the language spoken by the indigenous population of New Zealand then it wont come easy to you. Thats a hard nut to crack. So, instead of struggling with Maori, familiarise yourself with New Zealand English which is spoken by the majority of the population. New Zild which is their accent is not easy to catch but there are certain phrases you could learn to get that vibe. With that, we will dive into the list of 10 common phrases used in New Zealand.
1. KiwiConfused about what to call the natives of New Zealand? Does saying New Zealanders sound weird to you? Then the word youre looking for is Kiwi. The bird Kiwi being the national symbol of New Zealand, they view it as a symbol of pride. So, in short you could call them Kiwi without any fear of offending them.
2. Kia Ora Be well/healthyNow you cant easily learn Maori but why not pick up that one phrase which is used everyday to greet each other. Kia Ora is that phrase, used to greet someone which could help you blend in with the people of New Zealand.
3. Sweet as No problem/thank you/no worries/Its the most versatile term in New Zealand English. It could mean many things varying from okay or no problem to wonderful. So, when you hear a native using this term just take it easy because it doesnt express any kind of rejection but sheer acceptance or appreciation.
Read Also: How To Say Take In Sign Language
Five Factors Used To Form Signs
- Handshape the shape at the start of a sign
- Location where the sign is articulated, either on the body or in the signing space
- Movement the direction, speed, repetition, and manner convey meaning in signing
- Orientation the way the palms of the hands are facing at the start of sign
- Non-manual signals grammatical meaning made via facial expressions and movements of various body
Non-manual signals, essential in multi-channel signs, have no equivalent in English. These signals are expressed with mouth movement, the hands and different facial expressions, and movements of body parts such as the shoulders.
An important aspect of NZSL is that signers can, by using space, show multiple ideas simultaneously .
In NZSL facial expressions, often called “facial grammar”, are the equivalent of vocal intonations in spoken language because in NZSL, facial expressions clarify meanings related to grammar and intensity. For signers, clearly seeing each others faces and hands is important because this allows then to make sense of what meaning is being conveyed.
Hearing people, who are not used to the level of facial and body movement Deaf people use when conversing in NZSL, can often misunderstand Deaf people.
New Zealand Sign Language Week 2022 Recognises Essential Workers
This week is New Zealand Sign Language Week , a nationwide celebration of NZSL as an official language of New Zealand.
This years theme New Zealand Sign Language is essential recognises the prominence and importance of our third official language, and draws a spotlight on essential workers who are Deaf, Minister for Disability Issues Carmel Sepuloni said.
Im proud of the status we have given to New Zealand Sign Language, both in Aotearoa New Zealand and on an international stage. Were recognised as a world leader for our commitment to maintaining and furthering the use of our sign language, Carmel Sepuloni said.
Our work in this area was recently recognised in the United Kingdom as their government passed the final reading for the British Sign Language Bill on 27 April 2022.
NZSL was recognised as an official language of New Zealand in 2006. Approximately 20,000 people in New Zealand use New Zealand Sign Language as a form of communication and of this, approximately 4,600 are Deaf.
NZSL is an official language, but it is endangered. Id like to see all New Zealanders get involved, to ensure that NZSL is maintained and promoted, and not lost.
The maintenance and promotion of NZSL is vital to Deaf New Zealanders community participation, inclusion, access to services, wellbeing, education, and Deaf culture. It is about Deaf New Zealanders including our tangata turi community, having a good life in Aotearoa like all other New Zealanders.
You May Like: Cleaning Guinea Pig Ears
A Note On Mori Pronunciation
The lovely thing about learning to speak Mori is that its pronounced just like its spelled.
Pre-colonization, Mori was an oral language, with western spelling systems first introduced with the arrival of the Europeans. Some linguists say the introduction of spelling diminished the beauty of spoken Mori by reducing it to harsher European sounds. At least as a new learner , you should be able to sound out the spellings with a reasonable result.
Heres a video song to practice each of the Mori sounds:
One last tip: Make sure to sound out each syllable. For example, tu meke is pronounced too-meh-keh, and shell be right.
Is British And Australian Sign Language The Same
A language of beautiful nature, the Australian Sign Language is native to Australia. The sign language associated with British Sign Language and New Zealand Sign Language is Australian Sign Language. In addition to being part of the BANZSL language family, they derive their roots from the same parent language.
You May Like: Can You Teach Yourself Sign Language
Introducing Sign Ninja An Engaging New Online Game A Way To Have Fun Learning New Zealand Sign Language
You can play Sign Ninja FREE on computers, tablets and smart phones .
Sign Ninja is a great way to learn, practice and explore NZSL, the Language of the Deaf community of New Zealand.
The scene is set with a tale of intrigue told about a secret language. This is the little known but true history of NZSL, which was banned, even in Deaf schools, until as late as the 1980s.
The Sign Ninja player must navigate their way through the NZSL labyrinth to find the Great Hall of Communication.
Play includes the creation of an avatar and interaction with Sign Ninja characters the Sign Master, the Grammar Guru and the Hand Shaper.
NZSL vocabulary and knowledge is used to unlock doors, earn points, Thumbs Up tokens or Voice Off Shields along the way. Meanwhile the player will have to face the Shouters, noisy characters who dont know how to use NZSL and are so loud that they are causing the walls of the labyrinth to collapse!
Upon reaching the Great Hall of Communication, players will be awarded belts in a variety of colors to reflect their level of achievement. Players can choose to have their adventures recorded in the Sign Ninja Hall of Fame.
*Works with Chrome on Android phones. Note, not all Android phones are capable.
**iPads/iPhones with iOS 7
Te Ara Encyclopedia Of New Zealand Features New Zealand Sign Language
Media release: 21 September 2020
To mark the commencement of New Zealand sign language week , Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, features a story celebrating the genesis of one of Aotearoas official languages.
Neill Atkinson, Chief Historian at Manat Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage says the story describes the history of New Zealand Sign Language , signing in deaf education, variation and change in signs across regions and time, the role of interpreters, and digital technology.
Significantly, this is the first entry to be published on Te Ara that is accompanied by video clips of NZSL interpreting the story.
It supports the Accessibility Charter, follows the government accessibility guide Leading the way in accessible information, and recognises NZSL as an official language of Aotearoa and a taonga for all New Zealanders.
NZSL is the language of New Zealands deaf community and was made an official language in 2006.
Dr Rachel McKee, Programme Director for New Zealand Sign Language Studies at Victoria University, says NZSL is closely related to both British Sign Language and Australian Sign Language, thanks to historical contact with these countries.
However, much like spoken English, NZSL has been more recently influenced by American Sign Language, says Dr McKee.
Sign Languages are just as susceptible to a globalising world as spoken languages.
Don’t Miss: Sign Language For Pee And Poop
Local Government And External Territories
The early European settlers divided New Zealand into provinces, which had a degree of autonomy. Because of financial pressures and the desire to consolidate railways, education, land sales, and other policies, government was centralised and the provinces were abolished in 1876. The provinces are remembered in regional public holidays and sporting rivalries.
Since 1876, various councils have administered local areas under legislation determined by the central government. In 1989, the government reorganised local government into the current two-tier structure of regional councils and territorial authorities. The 249 municipalities that existed in 1975 have now been consolidated into 67 territorial authorities and 11 regional councils. The regional councils’ role is to regulate “the natural environment with particular emphasis on resource management“, while territorial authorities are responsible for sewage, water, local roads, building consents, and other local matters. Five of the territorial councils are unitary authorities and also act as regional councils. The territorial authorities consist of 13 city councils, 53 district councils, and the Chatham Islands Council. While officially the Chatham Islands Council is not a unitary authority, it undertakes many functions of a regional council.
New Zealand Religion Economy And Politics
The religions among the residents of New Zealand come in at Christian 44.3% , Hindu 2.1%, Buddhist 1.4%, Maori Christian 1.3%, Islam 1.1%, other religion 1.4% , no religion 38.5%, not stated or unidentified 8.2%, and those objected to answering came in at 4.1%.
The terms of GDP, the economy in New Zealand is the 53rd strongest in the world, much of which is dependent upon their foreign trade with countries like Australia, all of the European Union, the United States, China, South Korea, Canada, and Japan. Their proximity and the Closer Economic Relations agreement in 1983 brought the economies of New Zealand and Australia close together and they operate in very similar fashions.
New Zealand’s government is a unitary parliamentary representative democracy, as well as a constitutional, hereditary monarchy. While the Prime Minister is the most important person in the day-to-day government, above them in the constitutional hierarchy is New Zealand’s monarch, the British King or Queen. Therefore, Queen Elizabeth II is the current Head of State in New Zealand. Legislative power is divided between the Queen and the House of Representatives. Since the Queen is not often physically present, the Governor-General of New Zealand acts in her place. Executive power is more in the hands of the people and ministers for the House of Representatives are elected democraticaly.
You May Like: Guinea Pig Ear Wax