The official languages of New Zealand include English, Māori, and New Zealand Sign Language. English held sole official status for numerous years, but in 1987, Te reo Māori, commonly referred to as 'Māori,' was officially recognized as a language of New Zealand. Subsequently, New Zealand Sign Language received similar recognition in 2006.
Does New Zealand speak British English?
New Zealand English is characterized by distinctive pronunciation and vocabulary, with some asserting that grammatical parity exists between New Zealand English and British English, though variations in usage frequency are noticeable. For instance, the modal verb "shall" is infrequently used in New Zealand English, with a preference for "will." A century ago, "will" was commonly employed to convey future events, whereas today, expressions like "We're going to have a picnic on Saturday" are more prevalent. Moreover, there is grammatical diversity in New Zealand English, featuring non-standard elements such as irregular verb conjugations, akin to other varieties of non-standard English. These linguistic traits, often associated with lower-class speakers, may carry social stigma. Examples include unconventional verb forms like "I seen it" or "I done it." Additionally, non-standard New Zealand English incorporates a second-person plural pronoun, "yous," possibly influenced by regions with significant Irish migration, and is increasingly observed, particularly in Māori English.
Sign language in New Zealand
New Zealand Sign Language, or NZSL (Māori: te reo Turi), serves as the primary language for the deaf community in New Zealand and gained official language status in April 2006 through the New Zealand Sign Language Act 2006. The enactment of this law aimed to establish rights and responsibilities for the use of NZSL within the legal framework, ensuring equal access to government information and services for the Deaf community. As per the 2013 Census, more than 20,000 New Zealanders are proficient in NZSL.
Having its origins in British Sign Language (BSL), NZSL is technically considered a dialect of British, Australian, and New Zealand Sign Language (BANZSL), sharing 62.5% similarities with BSL. In contrast, only 33% of NZSL signs are found in American Sign Language. Similar to other natural sign languages, NZSL was created by and for deaf individuals, devoid of any linguistic ties to spoken or written languages.
NZSL utilizes the same two-handed manual alphabet as BSL and Auslan (Australian Sign Language). Notably, it incorporates more lip-patterns along with hand and facial movements to signal signs compared to BSL, reflecting New Zealand's historical emphasis on oralist education for the deaf. The vocabulary of NZSL encompasses Māori concepts such as "marae" and "tangi," as well as signs representing New Zealand place names, like "Rotorua" denoting mudpools and "Christchurch" symbolized by two Cs.
What language did New Zealand speak before English?
Maori, an Austronesian language primarily spoken in New Zealand's North Island, holds a distinct place as the indigenous language of both the land and its people. Before European settlement in the 1800s, Maori was the sole language spoken in New Zealand, evolving into various regional dialects due to geographical isolation over approximately 500 years. During this period, Maori lacked a written form, relying on alternative communication methods such as carving, knots, and weaving.
However, the 1800s marked a significant turning point as European colonization initiated the decline of both Maori language and culture. Forced assimilation and the dominance of English led to a rapid erosion of the Maori language, with Pakeha (white New Zealanders) becoming the predominant population by the 1860s. The decline continued, exacerbated by increased urbanization after World War II, causing a disconnect for many Maori individuals living in cities. By 1980, less than 20% of Maori people spoke their native language.
Efforts to reverse this decline began with the declaration of Maori Language Week in 1975, encouraging the use of Maori phrases and words. Legislative support followed in 1985, with the Maori Language Act of 1987 officially recognizing Maori as a language of New Zealand and allowing its use in legal settings. The establishment of the Maori Language Commission further reinforced these efforts.
Today, Maori has reclaimed its significance in New Zealand's cultural landscape. Maori language initiatives include radio stations, TV channels, newspapers, and even Maori-language prime time broadcasts. Traditional Maori practices, such as the Haka performed by the All Blacks rugby team, have become iconic symbols. While estimates indicate that 10 to 20% of the Maori population are fluent speakers, ongoing efforts seek to integrate Maori into the daily lives of all New Zealanders, fostering awareness and appreciation for the importance of preserving this indigenous language.
How many languages are spoken in New Zealand?
While English holds the status of the primary language spoken in New Zealand, it is not the exclusive language in the country. Te reo Māori, Samoan, Mandarin, and Hindi boast significant speaker numbers, contributing to the linguistic diversity of the nation. Remarkably, there are seven languages, apart from English, with speaker populations exceeding 50,000 in New Zealand.