[Avalon]

This is the Maori word for extended family. Im likely to have to have to say it a lot tommorrow - and I would like to at least attempt to get it right.

Any hints????

I would dearly appreciate any help.

Thank you

Hxxx

[Diny]

It's pronounced 'far now'.

Hope this helps.

Diny

[Avalon]

Oh - thats easy then :o

Do I feel stoopid now or what!

[ENZ]

It's pronounced 'far now'.

Hope this helps.

Diny

That's a completely silent r. :)

[Lupin]

I'd been pronouncing it with a hard "a", i.e. fa (as in fat)- noo (as in noose), so I was a bit far from the correct pronunciation....more swatting required for me!!

[Diny]

The only reason I know this is because a Kiwi mate of ours calls our truck the whanau wagon. I wonder whether I'll ever get my head around some of the pronunciations.

Diny

[sizzlingbadger]

I have a great way of learning lots of Maori words. Music with my 2 year old :D We usually have a few songs each week totally sung in Maori. By far the favourite is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, it sounds beautiful sung in Maori.

Also being at Play Centre we have to be able to say a few words although mine are lacking some what :confused: My 3 year old is also learning Te Reo at kindy and passes some of the words on to me, great way to learn them.

[Diny]

My kids are getting really good - they know the Maori word for many everyday things and can even say a few sentances. My eldest has been able to count from 1 to 10 in Maori since a very early age. I think it's a beautiful language - and I love the people too.

Diny

[jodieinchch]

its actually pronounced 'far-no' . common misconception. the things we learn at teachers college!!!

[StevieD]

I think it is lovely that the kids learn Maori too. Nothing wrong with that. It seems we are in for interesting times when we get there, but I expect I, along with so many others, will struggle with the pronunciations.

[kiwidebs]

its actually pronounced 'far-no' . common misconception. the things we learn at teachers college!!!

I'd always pronounced it far-now (to rhyme with cow) but was recently corrected on a study day at work (I work in the health system). We had a representative from the Maori support unit come and talk to us and she assures us it is pronounced far-no. So there you go :nice1

[Diny]

I'd always pronounced it far-now (to rhyme with cow)


Yeah me too. But I'm happy to stand corrected.

Diny

[sidcarter]

how does one pronounce "Aotearoa" ? :D

[JohnM]

Here's another good one - When I was driving to Tauranga (Taw-Raw-gah very soft "G") in May, I was passing through Whakatane, and that is pronounced like "F**K-a-tani"!! I was listening to the radio and couldn't help laughing every time I heard an advertisement like "The best shop in "F**k-a-tani"

[Diny]

Hhhmmm interesting. Just been watching the news and the word whanau has been mentioned 3 times - each time it was pronounced 'far now'.

As for Aotearoa - I'm not even going to try to phonetically explain that one.

Diny

[jodieinchch]

in a lot of ad's if they're not maori they end up using the common knowledge. apparently there used to be an advert which had far-now throughout it. which was wrong. it is far-no. :D

as for aotearoa; ow-tay-row-a

maori is such a complex language. all about the vowel sounds.

[Carol]

I actually think it is a lot easier than English in some ways.
What you see is what you get.
You only need to remember what sounds the vowels make and they always make the same sound!

[jodieinchch]

Whakatane- shouldnt that be faka-ta-nay??

[Carol]

a is pronounced ar
e is pronounced air
i is pronounced ee
o is pronounced ow
u is pronounced oo

So Whakatane would be Far-Kar-tar-nair
It's not always said like that though!



Voel blends have their own sounds though like the Ao in Aotearoa
Taupo should be Toe-paw and not Tow-po

And my school is
Pauatahanui - Pow-ar- tar-har-nui

I'm certainly no expert though - that's why I call in my Maori parents to help me teach it properly in class.
They love to get involved and we all learn heaps.
Maori bingo is hilarious!

[Babette & Andy]

Love the name of your school Carol - though wouldn't have liked to try and pronounce that when I first got here :confused:

Agree it's a beautiful language, I too am getting to grips with the basics at / through Playcentre. Have started to read some part Maori children books to the girls - our favourite so far is The Waka, which you read to the tune of 'The animals went in two by two, huray huray etc' - highly recommend it!!

Babette

www.balainnz.blogspot.com

[KerryS]

There's a show on TV1 at about 5pm which teaches Maori. It's pretty good for undertanding the pronounciation and getting to grips with some basic phrases.
It's called Whanau.