Te reo could help Brazil
monitor the vitality and state of the languages in the world. Most Brazilian languages are categorised as critical or severely endangered... They’ve been dying.
‘‘When a language dies you lose a way of thinking and looking at the world, different classifications of animals and plants, and lots of knowledge and wisdom that comes from ancient times.’’
The groups are sharing knowledge, and last year four Ma¯ori academics travelled to Brazil to talk with language teachers and community leaders about the experience of reinvigorating te reo since World War II.
This semester, Maia is based at Massey and, along with two other academics from Brazil, is visiting ko¯hanga reo and other schools. They also observed Ma¯ori Language Week.
One of the group, Dr Marcia Nascimento, is a member of the Kaingang ethnic group, the third largest in Brazil. It would be ‘‘a dream’’ if the Kaingang language could follow the same path Ma¯ori had, she said.
‘‘Ko¯hanga reo are special because the language and culture are the main purpose, so children have the opportunity to have the language early, firsthand.’’
The team would eventually submit its findings to Unesco, Maia said. ‘‘So this project has the potential to spread to other countries.’’
Mari Ropata-te Hei, of Massey, is taking part in the exchange, and said the Ma¯ori experience in fighting for their language’s future had already benefited indigenous groups in Hawaii and North America. ‘‘The exciting thing is, what I was taught is the language we have is not our own. It is left to us by our tupuna, so we have to make sure that we are giving it to those people who ask for it.
‘‘Unfortunately, we still have people in Aotearoa that feel that te reo Ma¯ori and Ma¯ori culture have no place here, but we’re now on the world stage.’’