TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.
Obvious punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison
with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external
sources.
More detail can be found at the end of the book.
FIRST LESSONS
IN
THE MAORI LANGUAGE
WITH A SHORT VOCABULARY
BY
W. L. WILLIAMS, B. A.
[Illustration: (colophon)]
LONDON:
TRÜBNER & CO. 60, PATERNOSTER ROW.
1862.
PREFACE.
The object of the following pages is not to give anything like a
complete treatise on the Maori language, nor even a complete outline
of Maori Grammar; but rather to furnish, in as small a compass as
possible, some practical hints on the ordinary modes of using the
different parts of speech; and to clear away some of the difficulties
which are most likely to occur to one who is making his first
acquaintance with the language; and, I should add, to do this to
the satisfaction, in some degree at least, of those who are willing
to avail themselves of my guidance. How far I have succeeded such
persons must decide.
There are doubtless some things--probably not a few--which are not
even here alluded to, but which might be advantageously set down,
even in a small work like this: but the task of selection has not
proved altogether an easy one. I have had to settle _a priori_ what
points are, and what are not likely to present difficulty to an
English student of the Maori language. In doing this I could not
fall back on my own experience in learning the language, for Maori
has never been exactly a strange language to me, and I have had but
little opportunity of availing myself of the experience of others. I
shall be glad therefore to receive any suggestions which may help in
any way to render this little book more useful to those for whose use
it is intended.
In conclusion, I may be allowed to offer one caution; and that is,
that it is not easy to learn to _speak_ a language merely from books.
Books, properly used, are of great service; and in the present case
Maunsell's Grammar will repay a careful study: but there is no school
for learning to speak any given language like frequent intercourse
with the people who use that language and no other.
Turanga, April 13, 1862.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I.
I. ON READING 3
II. NOUNS AND PERSONAL PRONOUNS 5
III. DEFINITIVES 12
IV. ADJECTIVES 18
V. NUMERALS 20
VI. SENTENCES WITHOUT VERBS 23
VII. VERBS 30
VIII. ADJECTIVES AND PARTICIPLES 40
IX. RELATIVE CLAUSES 44
X. ADVERBS 48
XI. PREPOSITIONS 49
XII. HAVE, HAD &c. 52