The letter "R" has a strange status in New Zealand. Kiwis add an "er" to the end of words that end in "a" (called an Intrusive R in linguistics) but they don't always pronounce the "r" in words that already have one at the end.
For example:
I'm from AmericeR and our president is Barack ObameR
The ca I drive is a Subaru Justy
The koaleR bear lives in AustralieR
Many cheap products in New Zealand come from ChineR, in AsieR
I ordered a vodkeR martini at the ba last night
I have a great ideaR
I need to buy a ja of pasta sauce for the lasagne
Showing posts with label Language. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Language. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Can You Repeat That Please?
OK, I've been here almost 6 months and I still can't understand Kiwis sometimes! Not only does the accent make it hard, but Kiwis talk fast and often mumble. My friends for whom English is a second language joke that successfully ordering a sandwich at Subway with the all ingredients you actually want is the gold star of understanding the Kiwi language.
Some things here also have a different name than we are used to in the US, making communication even more difficult or possibly embarrassing!
Here are some of those words:
Serviette=Napkin
Napkin or Nappy=Diaper
Torch=Flashlight
Boot=Trunk of the car
Bonnet=Hood of the car
Fringe=Bangs
Root=To have sex (Yeah, don't say you "root" for a sports team here...)
Braces=Suspenders
Capsicum=Bell Pepper
Coriander=Cilantro
Courgettes=Zucchini
Aubergine=Eggplant
Chips=Fries
Crisps=Chips
Flannel=Washcloth
Jandals=Flip-flops/thongs
Jersey=Sweater
Jumper=Wool sweater
Lolly=Candy
Nought=Zero
Zed=the letter Z
Petrol=Gasoline
Rubber=Eraser
Sticking plaster=Band-aid
Valet=A person who cleans cars, NOT parks them
Some things here also have a different name than we are used to in the US, making communication even more difficult or possibly embarrassing!
Here are some of those words:
Serviette=Napkin
Napkin or Nappy=Diaper
Torch=Flashlight
Boot=Trunk of the car
Bonnet=Hood of the car
Fringe=Bangs
Root=To have sex (Yeah, don't say you "root" for a sports team here...)
Braces=Suspenders
Capsicum=Bell Pepper
Coriander=Cilantro
Courgettes=Zucchini
Aubergine=Eggplant
Chips=Fries
Crisps=Chips
Flannel=Washcloth
Jandals=Flip-flops/thongs
Jersey=Sweater
Jumper=Wool sweater
Lolly=Candy
Nought=Zero
Zed=the letter Z
Petrol=Gasoline
Rubber=Eraser
Sticking plaster=Band-aid
Valet=A person who cleans cars, NOT parks them
Friday, January 30, 2009
In Brief
Kiwis love to shorten words. Many everyday words have been trimmed of excess letters and syllables in order to.......? I'm not sure, but shortening words seems to be a national pastime. The shortened words often end in -y or -ie, creating a somewhat "cute" version of the word. Although, I'm not sure if the electricians I know in the States would think it's cute to be referred to as Sparkie.
Here are some cute Kiwi words:
Batch=Bachelor house, usually by the seaside
Bickie=Biscuit (Cookie)
Brekkie=Breakfast
Brickie=Bricklayer
Cardy=Cardigan
Chippy=Carpenter, Builder
Chrissy=Christmas
Cuz=Cousin
Fizzy=Soda
Greasies=Fish n'Chips
Gummies or Wellies=Gumboots (Rainboots)
Hottie=Hot Water Bottle
Nappy=Diaper
Prezzy=Present, as in gift
Rellies=Relatives
Sarnie=Sandwich
Sickie=A sick day from work
Sparkie=Electrician
Sunnies=Sunglasses
Ta=Thank You
Togs=Bathing suit
Here are some cute Kiwi words:
Batch=Bachelor house, usually by the seaside
Bickie=Biscuit (Cookie)
Brekkie=Breakfast
Brickie=Bricklayer
Cardy=Cardigan
Chippy=Carpenter, Builder
Chrissy=Christmas
Cuz=Cousin
Fizzy=Soda
Greasies=Fish n'Chips
Gummies or Wellies=Gumboots (Rainboots)
Hottie=Hot Water Bottle
Nappy=Diaper
Prezzy=Present, as in gift
Rellies=Relatives
Sarnie=Sandwich
Sickie=A sick day from work
Sparkie=Electrician
Sunnies=Sunglasses
Ta=Thank You
Togs=Bathing suit
Monday, January 26, 2009
Your Maori Lesson for the Day
Maori, also referred to as te reo (the language), is one of New Zealand's three official languages (along with English and NZ Sign Language) and is commonly spoken by people of Maori descent. It is considered an East Polynesian language and is closely related to Tahitian. Many of New Zealand's place names are of Maori origin and describe the physical geography of the environment.
Like many native languages under Western colonization, Maori has had many ups and downs over the past 200 years. At the beginning of the 19th century Maori was the predominant language spoken in New Zealand. As more white English speakers arrived on the islands, the Maori language was increasingly confined to small, Maori-only communities. By the mid-20th century there were concerns that the language was dying out. Major initiatives in the 1980s were launched to bring about a revival of Maori.
Today, most government departments have bilingual names, and many schools, museums, and libraries have bilingual signs. There are currently 2 Maori language TV stations and a Maori radio station. Parents have the option of sending their children to Maori-immersion kindergarten and more families are choosing to raise bilingual children. Recent polls show that over 130,000 people of Maori ethnicity now speak and understand Maori.
With few Maori living on the South Island, we rarely get the chance to hear Maori spoken, although we do listen to the Maori radio station sometimes. It's a beautiful language and I can't wait to hear more of it when we travel to the North Island.
If you're interested in learning more about the Maori language, check out the New Zealand government's Maori Language Commission website at:
http://www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz/
If you want to look up a word in Maori, go to the online Maori Dictionary:
http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz/
Here is a sample of common Maori words.
= cloud
= Land of the Long White Cloud (one of several translations)
= love and affection
= river, valley
= welcome
= farewell
= a dance and chants performed by the men
= a Maori feast where the food is cooked/steamed in an earth oven
= wind
= legendary homeland of the Maori
= good; well done
= food
= hello, good bye, good luck
= prestige, power, control
= bird
= mountain
= sea or lake
= tattoo
= island, or anything that is isolated
= foreigner, white person, European
= night
= spring of water
rangi= sky
= lake
= sacred
wai = water
= spirit
= bay, stretch of water, inlet
= house
= land
Like many native languages under Western colonization, Maori has had many ups and downs over the past 200 years. At the beginning of the 19th century Maori was the predominant language spoken in New Zealand. As more white English speakers arrived on the islands, the Maori language was increasingly confined to small, Maori-only communities. By the mid-20th century there were concerns that the language was dying out. Major initiatives in the 1980s were launched to bring about a revival of Maori.
Today, most government departments have bilingual names, and many schools, museums, and libraries have bilingual signs. There are currently 2 Maori language TV stations and a Maori radio station. Parents have the option of sending their children to Maori-immersion kindergarten and more families are choosing to raise bilingual children. Recent polls show that over 130,000 people of Maori ethnicity now speak and understand Maori.
With few Maori living on the South Island, we rarely get the chance to hear Maori spoken, although we do listen to the Maori radio station sometimes. It's a beautiful language and I can't wait to hear more of it when we travel to the North Island.
If you're interested in learning more about the Maori language, check out the New Zealand government's Maori Language Commission website at:
http://www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz/
If you want to look up a word in Maori, go to the online Maori Dictionary:
http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz/
Here is a sample of common Maori words.
= cloud
= Land of the Long White Cloud (one of several translations)
= love and affection
= river, valley
= welcome
= farewell
= a dance and chants performed by the men
= a Maori feast where the food is cooked/steamed in an earth oven
= wind
= legendary homeland of the Maori
= good; well done
= food
= hello, good bye, good luck
= prestige, power, control
= bird
= mountain
= sea or lake
= tattoo
= island, or anything that is isolated
= foreigner, white person, European
= night
= spring of water
rangi= sky
= lake
= sacred
wai = water
= spirit
= bay, stretch of water, inlet
= house
= land
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Git Yer Dags Rattlin'
Oh my, how creative these Kiwis are with the English language! I have had so much fun learning new words and phrases. Here are a few of my favorites that I'll be sure to use in the future:
Rattle your dags=hurry up, get a move on. From the mucky sheep's "dags" which describe the dried poop hanging from the sheep's butt wool. Gross. Try using "Oi, get your dags rattling, we're going to be late!"
Mooch Around=explore, investigate. As in "We had a mooch around the beach yesterday"
Knickers=underwear. I just love the word. Say it out loud.
Colly Wobbles=a feeling of nausea usually associated with nervousness. "Before my job interview I had the colly wobbles"
Flash=sensational, really cool, super. "That's a flash new car"
Throw a Wobbly=to become angry, get snotty, throw a fit. As in "geez, don't throw a wobbly over that, it's no big deal"
Crikey Dick=Gosh! Wow! Crazy!
Sprog=a child. "That woman has 4 wee sprogs!"
Dodgy=bad, unreliable, spoiled. "That fish looks a bit dodgy, I wouldn't buy it"
Knackered=extremely tired, worn out, finished, stuffed. "We were knackered after our 10 hour hike in the rain and wind"
Sweet As=a term people say instead of "cool" or "awesome"
Sparrow Fart=very early in the morning, the crack of dawn. As in "My boyfriend wakes me up at the sparrow's fart for Farmer's Market on Saturdays"
Rattle your dags=hurry up, get a move on. From the mucky sheep's "dags" which describe the dried poop hanging from the sheep's butt wool. Gross. Try using "Oi, get your dags rattling, we're going to be late!"
Mooch Around=explore, investigate. As in "We had a mooch around the beach yesterday"
Knickers=underwear. I just love the word. Say it out loud.
Colly Wobbles=a feeling of nausea usually associated with nervousness. "Before my job interview I had the colly wobbles"
Flash=sensational, really cool, super. "That's a flash new car"
Throw a Wobbly=to become angry, get snotty, throw a fit. As in "geez, don't throw a wobbly over that, it's no big deal"
Crikey Dick=Gosh! Wow! Crazy!
Sprog=a child. "That woman has 4 wee sprogs!"
Dodgy=bad, unreliable, spoiled. "That fish looks a bit dodgy, I wouldn't buy it"
Knackered=extremely tired, worn out, finished, stuffed. "We were knackered after our 10 hour hike in the rain and wind"
Sweet As=a term people say instead of "cool" or "awesome"
Sparrow Fart=very early in the morning, the crack of dawn. As in "My boyfriend wakes me up at the sparrow's fart for Farmer's Market on Saturdays"
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