March 03, 2021
Moriori keen to revive language
Hokotehi Moriori Trust has started the long journey of reviving the language of the Rēkohu-Chatham Islands.
With assistance from Māori language support body Te Mātāwai it has developed a free Ta Rē Moriori language app, containing an introduction to basic Moriori language, and guides to pronunciation, mihi, karakii and rongo or songs.
Spokesperson Maui Solomon says there are no archival recordings of the language being spoken, but there are word lists, chants and karakii compiled in the late 1800s.
"The language app is our first step in the journey towards reviving and restoring Ta Rē Moriori, the Moriori language. I expect it will be five or six or seven generations before Ta Rē is spoken again, if ever fluently, but the fundamental plank of any cultural restoration is to have the language revived and spoken again," Mr Solomon says.
The app is available for download from the Hokotehi Moriori Trust website.
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