#maori
6 posts · Last used 7d
My pet peeve that I’d like to fix about Aotearoa as a proficient #Māori speaker? Stop using the translated days of the week, and just use the transliterated ones.
The transliterated/traditional days:
Mane – Monday Tūrei – Tuesday Wenerei – Wednesday Tāite – Thursday Paraire – Friday Reasons this is better: -It is historical, from the time of the missionaries -It is preferred by most Māori speakers, especially in those communities where the language never died out as it has been in use for generations. -It is accessible for people who know English and haven’t learned Māori, including international visitors to Aotearoa. The translated set is thus: Rāhina: Day of the Moon (Māhina) Rātū: Day of Tūmatauenga (the god of war, aligning with Mars) Rāapa: Day of Apārangi (aligning with Mercury) Rāpare: Day of Pareārau (aligning with Jupiter) Rāmere: Day of Meremere (Venus) The problems with this are: -After translating European concepts into Māori, they remain European concepts. -They are completely indecipherable to anyone who does not speak Māori.
- When using a day of the week, we’re communicating a utilitarian concept so it makes sense to use something universally decipherable. Note: Regardless of which set is used, the weekend days are the same, they are not translations but their own concepts created by early missionaries to Aotearoa: Rāhoroi - day of cleaning, (in preparation for) Rātapu - holy day. #TeReoMaori #indigenous #Language
