Te Reo, a language for Māori alone?: an investigation into the relationship between the Māori language and Māori identity

Abstract

This thesis is a sociolinguistic study that addresses the link between Māori identity and the ability to speak and understand te reo Māori (the Māori language). This study goes right to the heart of the relationship between language and identity. The international literature regarding this relationship is considerable and suggests that for many of the indigenous and minority language communities around the world, such a link is an imperative. It is a view that is also reflected in the Māori literature. As a first step this study questions that proposition and explores the views of Māori on this matter which allows us to gain insights into the ways in which Māori in the early 21st century view their language and their identity. In a second phase this study looks to explore the idea of encouraging and supporting non- Māori – those who have no Māori whakapapa (geneology) – into learning to speak te reo Māori as a means of assisting te reo revitalisation, through increasing the numbers of speakers of te reo. Understandings around the importance of te reo to Māori identity have had a huge influence on the ways in which Māori reacted to this proposition. This project is of direct relevance to Māori, who have been extremely concerned for several decades about the loss of the Māori language and its ongoing threatened status. Māori have been directly involved in measures to preserve the language both on the national stage and at local levels. More than 600 people contributed to this study and both quantitative and qualitative modes of analysis were employed at different stages of this study. The quantitative data from the survey was analysed using the SPSS1 programme. Interpretive content analysis and narrative analysis that utilised tikanga or models of Māori understandings of identity, and sociolinguistic theory exposed a number of themes that are used to illustrate the findings of this study.