Māori Language Cyberspace
The here published 600 word article on The Passage of the Māori Language Act 1987, although requested by the New Zealand Society for Translators and Interpreters, never saw publication until this cyberspace. Allthough it was later published in the societys' Word4Word magazine in 2002, the heading was inadvertantly rewritten with an obscure title. However comendation of the society is also required, as the NZSTI formally signed an MOU with the NZ Māori Language Commission, at the NZSTI national conference in Wellington, 2003. The original article is here provided in full.
Passage of the Māori Language Act 1987
Our translation profession exists in a world of 200+ nation states, and 6,012+ living languages. One of these languages is Māori, and the one nation state in the world where Māori Language exists is here, Aotearoa (New Zealand). While the language has existed since antiquity, Māori language translation (MLT), as we know it today (predominately Māori-English English-Māori translation) began as a consequence of European Colonisation in Aotearoa (New Zealand), around the beginning of the nineteenth century.
We can discuss MLT infinitely, however the most useful starting point for any novice is undoubtedly the 'passage of the Māori Language Act 1987', which bestows a special significance (and special legal recognition) on Māori Language in Aotearoa, and therefore indirectly also on MLT. Since European Colonisation, Māori language has been in a process of 'revitalisation' resulting from near total Māori language attrition. This push for Māori Language Revitalisation reached a significant turning point around 1970, which is where the significant 'passage of the Māori Language Act 1987' began. Earlier Māori linguistic resistance to linguistic colonisation in Aotearoa, also led to the 'passage of the Māori Language Act 1987':
Passage of the Māori Language Act 1987 (If not recognised by law - it doesn't exist)
Since 1987 nothing substantial has happened to 'empower the Act' (i.e. entrenched constitutional recognition*). By such an action the onus and responsibilities of providing the resources for the perpetuation of Māori Language, and indeed MLT, would become the states' (not just Māori ). This removes a large burden from 'Māori society' as a whole, in the context of language revitalisation. What is the present psychological cost of the Act to Māori society? What is the socio-economic cost to New Zealand? How can we further advance the passage of the Act?
Over the last 162 years (two peoples lifetimes), English language contact has impacted significantly on language change in Māori , language cognition, and indeed 'translation'. An interesting correlation exists between English language contact, MLT, and the process of Māori land loss - omnipotent to a 'people of the land'. As a result, much MLT energy has been inadvertently diverted to follow alternative Western linguistic paradigms of language description i.e. lexicalisation etc. One significant problem now for MLT, is that these traditional Western linguistic paradigms however now also form the basis of the linguistic architecture of the Information Revolution. A far cry from the MLT issues of yesteryear.
A Māori elder remembers how in the 1940s no one could understand why he or she got physically beaten at school for speaking Māori (this is analogous to school kids being beaten in school today for speaking English). 60 years on, I believe NZSTI as an organisation, is in a position to make a significant contribution to the future passage of the Māori Language Act, through pro-active support for MLT. A significant first step may simply be a Memorandum of Understanding with the Māori Language Commission (the body established under the 1987 Māori Language Act, ultimately responsible for Māori Language Translation and Interpreting in NZ).
Nāku noa nā,
Te Tumatakuru
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