Reo app offers instant translation
If your goal for this year’s Te Wiki o te Reo Ma¯ ori has been to incorporate a few new words into your vocabulary, help is at hand.
There are a range of apps designed to help speakers of all levels – whether you’re expanding a basic vocabulary or wanting to finesse existing knowledge.
Kupu
Spark launched its offering, Kupu, this week. It’s an interactive mobile app powered by Google that offers users instant Ma¯ ori translations of the objects around them. Users take a picture and Kupu uses image recognition to identify what the object is, and provide a written and spoken te reo Ma¯ ori alternative. The app is available free on Google Play and the App store.
It’s really impressive and a bit addictive. Taking a photo of my canine workmate, it offered ‘‘dog’’ but also ‘‘snout’’, ‘‘whiskers’’, ‘‘fur’’ and ‘‘puppy’’.
‘‘We see the Ma¯ ori language and culture as special and unique to New Zealand, so we want to play a small role in helping te reo Ma¯ ori prosper through the use of digital platforms,’’ said Lisa Paraku, Spark business manager – Ma¯ ori.
He aha te¯ nei?
Aimed at kids with basic reading ability, He aha te¯ nei is an interactive game. Users match parts of a word to complete it, then hear it pronounced by cute children’s voices.
Aki
Aki (which means to encourage) is a free Ma¯ ori language vocabulary and phrase-learning app for iPhones and iPads, that involves participants in an interactive game. Its aim is to develop Ma¯ ori language skills, particularly in young people.
It was developed out of a research project looking at how Dunedin families pass the language on to their children. It also offers a dictionary option.
Tipu Te Reo Ma¯ ori
This app asks questions so users can check their vocabulary, and offers answers if you need it. It guides users through Ma¯ ori grammar, starting with basic nouns.
Kia Ora Te Reo Ma¯ ori
Handy if you want to check pronunciation of phrases, although the range is limited.
Te Reo Ma¯ ori
Unlike the others, AUT’s dictionary app is not free but is worth its $5.99 download price. It offers definitions as well as information about New Zealand native plants and animals, important people and cultural references.