CHAPTER I._Grammar of the New Zealand language (2nd edition)

Transcriber's Note:

A macron (e. g. "ā") indicates a long vowel and a breve (e. g. "ă")

indicates a short vowel.

The text makes extensive use of italics, which are indicated by

_underscores_. Small capitals have been rendered in upper case.

Various notes and remarks of less importance to a beginner are printed

in smaller type (c. f. last paragraph of the Preface to the First

Edition). In this version they have been indented by one space.

There are minor inconsistencies beween the sections listed in the

Table of Contents and those in the text itself.

Braces extending over more than one line have been replaced by

columns of individual braces.

Inconsistent hyphenation has been retained. Apparent errors of

punctuation, capitals and italics, that are inconsistent with the

sense of the text, have been corrected.

Apparent errors or obscure type affecting Maori or English spelling

have also been corrected. Maori corrections are listed at the end of

the text.

GRAMMAR

OF THE

NEW ZEALAND LANGUAGE,

R. MAUNSELL, L. L. D.,

ARCHDEACON OF WAIKATO.

SECOND EDITION.

AUCKLAND:

PUBLISHED BY W. C. WILSON, SHORTLAND-STREET,

1862.

AUCKLAND:

PRINTED BY W. C. WILSON, "NEW ZEALANDER" OFFICE.

PREFACE.

The first edition of this Grammar having been for many years

exhausted, and a considerable demand for some means of acquiring an

accurate knowledge of the Maori language having recently arisen, the

author has been induced to republish the work with such alterations as

the attention which he has in the meantime given to the subject,

during long labours of translation, has caused him to deem advisable.

Amongst the principal of these alterations is the omission of many

passages exhibiting extreme niceties of the language, which, although

useful to the finished scholar, were thought to be scarcely necessary

to the ordinary student, and were complained of as embarrassing to the

beginner.

The author begs to express his acknowledgments to his friend Mr.

Fenton, late Resident Magistrate of Waikato, and one of the few who

have studied the language grammatically, for carrying the present work

through the press.

Kohanga, Waikato,

January, 1862.

PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION.

Independently of minute and numerous subdivisions, it may, perhaps, be

correct to state that there are spoken in this the northern island

seven leading dialects, each more or less distinguished from the

other--viz., 1st, the Rarawa, or that spoken to the northward of

Kaitaia; 2nd, the Ngapuhi, or that spoken in that portion of the

island as far south of Kaitaia as Point Rodney on the eastern coast,

and Kaipara on the western; 3rd, the Waikato, or that spoken in the

district lying between Point Rodney and Tauranga on the east, and

Kaipara and Mokau on the west; 4th, that spoken in the Bay of Plenty;

5th, the dialect of the East Cape and its neighbourhood, in which,

perhaps, may be included that of Rotorua, though in these two places

many little differences might be detected; 6th, that spoken in the

line of coast between Port Nicholson and Wanganui, though here, also,

at least four distinct branches might be traced; 7th, and last, that

spoken between Wanganui and Mokau. The dialect of Taupo may be,

perhaps, considered a mixture of those of Rotorua and Waikato.

All these may be stated to bear to each other a remarkable radical

affinity. Many words, it is true, may be found in one which are

unknown in another; but the grammar of _any_ will give a great insight

into the texture of _all_.

The Waikato dialect is very generally known throughout the larger

portion of the island. It has deeply tinctured that of Taupo, is well

known at Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty, and has been carried to the

summits of Taranaki by the multitudes whom its fierce warriors once

dragged from thence in slavery, and whose chains have been since

snapped by the power of the Gospel. Ngapuhi to the northward are well

acquainted with it, from the number of slaves who had been fetched

from thence by the warrior Hongi; and a little before his time it was

carried to the neighbourhood of Port Nicholson by two large and

distinct migrations--one by Ngatitoa, who were the original possessors

of Kawhia, another by Ngatiraukawa, who formerly occupied Maungatautari,

and as far as Taupo.

The four tribes also who now occupy the banks of the Thames resided,

formerly, for a very long period, in Waikato, and, being sprung from

the same stock, speak a language so similar that a critical ear can

scarcely tell the difference between the dialects of the two people.[1]

The origin of this people,--what part of this island was first

occupied,--whether it was not colonized by different migrations from

different islands,--are points as yet buried in darkness.

That it was not occupied by merely one migration has ever been the

opinion of the author since he heard of the different condition and

habits of the people of the East Cape and those of Waikato. A survey

of the different dialects will confirm the conjecture, and nowhere can

we get a better illustration than at Taupo. For that magnificent lake,

in the centre of the island, and the point of meeting for two parties,

as they approach from either coast, presents also a remarkable

diversity in the languages spoken on the eastern and western banks. On

the eastern, the dialect corresponds closely with that of Rotorua,

from which it is distant about a four days' journey; on the

north-western, which is occupied by a remnant left by the Ngatiraukawa

in their great migration to the southward, the dialect is remarkably

similar to that spoken in Waikato.[2]

The points of similarity between the fundamental principles of the

Hebrew language and those of Maori have been occasionally noticed:

not, however, because the author entertains any opinion that the two

languages can claim any direct relationship to each other. Upon this

only would he insist, in reply to those who would bind him down to the

model of some of the European grammars, that Maori, like Hebrew, is

altogether different from those languages in structure; that every

subject of scientific inquiry must have rules and an arrangement

suited to its nature; and that, as it would be absurd to construct the

English on the basis of the Latin, so would it be more out of course

to think of finding in Maori declensions, conjugations, modes of

comparison, &c., &c., as accurately defined, or conducted on the same

principles, as those of languages so polished, and so adapted for

expressing, as well the minutest varieties in thought, as the

tenderest emotions of the feelings.

And here the author would acknowledge his obligations to Professor Lee

for his theory of the Hebrew tenses. On no other hypothesis can a

satisfactory solution be given of the Maori tense.

The student is requested to notice that the remarks that are more

suited to a beginner are printed in large type, and that matters which

are of less importance to him are contained in the smaller. It will

be, perhaps, most advisable for him to omit the perusal of the latter

until he has mastered the former.

Waikato Heads,

February, 1842.

[1] Marutuahu, from Kawhia, is the great progenitor of the Thames

tribes, and his name is often used to designate that people. Kawhia,

we may add, is the place at which, according to the accounts of the

people of Waikato, Taranaki, as well as those of Ngatiruanui, the

early immigrants landed.

[2] These remarks might also be extended to Rotorua lakes, on the

north-western extremity also of which are residing another remnant of

Ngatiraukawa, whose dialect is, as far as the author recollects,

different from that spoken by Ngatiwakaane.

EXPLANATION OF ABBREVIATIONS.

adj.--_adjective_.

adv.--_adverb_.

n.--_noun_.

part. adj.--_participial adjective_.

v.--_verb_.

v. a.--_verb active_.

vid. S.--_denotes that further information will be found in the

Syntax_.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAP. I.

ORTHOEPY.

The letters of Maori 1

Of the sound of the Vowels 1-4

Of the Diphthongs 4-7

Homogeneous sounds, when they meet in a sentence 7

Of the Consonants 7-9

A table of peculiarities of pronunciation in the principal

dialects 9

CHAP. II.

OF THE ARTICLE.

The Articles 10

Of the definite article _te_ 10-12

Of its plural _nga_ 12

Of the indefinite article _he_ 12

Of _te tahi_ when used as an article 12-13

Of the particle _a_ 13-15

CHAP. III.

OF THE NOUNS.

Nouns primitive and derivative 16

Compound words 17

Verbal nouns 17-18

Proper names 18-19

Gender of nouns 19-20

Number of nouns 21

Of the postfix _ma_ 21

Reduplication of nouns 21

Cases of nouns 22

CHAP. IV.

OF THE ADJECTIVES.

Their gender, number, and case 23

Reduplication of 23

CHAP. V.

OF THE NUMERALS.

Of the cardinals 24

Their prefixes 24

Their manner of combination, &c. 25

_Prefixes_ for denoting

----persons 26

----distribution 26

----fractions of length 26

_Ordinals._

Three ways for denoting them 26

CHAP. VI.

OF THE PRONOUNS.

Of the personal pronouns 27-29

Of the possessive pronouns 29

Of the relative pronouns 29-30

Of the demonstrative pronouns 30-31

Of _nei_, _na_, and _ra_ 30

Of the interrogative pronouns 31

Mode of supplying the defect of distributive pronouns 32

Of the indefinite pronouns 32-33

CHAP. VII.

OF THE VERBS.

_Verbs_ primitive, derivative, and compound 34-35

Mood 35-36

Tense 36-38

Imperative mood 39-42

Paradigm of tense in simple sentences 42-52

Passive voice (table of examples) 48

----remarks on 49

Verbal nouns (their formation) 51-52

Neuter verbs 52

Participial adjectives 53

CHAP. VIII.

OF THE PREPOSITIONS.

List of prepositions 55-56

Remarks on them 56-64

Proper meaning of _na_, _ma_, &c. 64-72

CHAP. IX.

OF THE ADVERBS.

Primitive and derivative adverbs 73-74

Classification and list of adverbs and adverbial

expressions 74-86

CHAP. X.

OF THE PARTICLES.

Atu, mai, ake, iho, ai, ano, ra, koa, u, hoki, kau 87-94

CHAP. XI.

Of the conjunctions 95-98

CHAP. XII.

Of the interjections 99-101

CHAP. XIII.

OF THE SYNTAX.

_Preliminary Remarks._

Terms explained 102

Complex and incomplex propositions 103

Remarks on the general features of Maori 103-104

Epanorthosis 104-105

CHAP. XIV.

SYNTAX OF THE ARTICLE.

_Ko_ an article 106

Its peculiar features 106-109

The omission of the article 109

_He_ and _te tahi_ 109-110

The particle _a_ 110-111

CHAP. XV.

SYNTAX OF THE NOUN.

Nouns in apposition 112

Article prefixed to them 112

Preposition 113

Exceptions 113-114

Clauses in epanorthosis, irregularity of 114

The answer to a question, construction of 114-115

_Possessive Case denotes_

----Intensity 115

----Date of an act 115

----Useful in predication 115

----Used instead of other cases 116

----Position of, when the governing word is twice

repeated 116

----Governing word often omitted 116

Material, or quality, of a thing how denoted by a

substantive 116-117

The form of the substantive often used for that of

the adjective 117

_Objective Case._

----position of 117-118

How compound words govern others 118

_Kai_ prefixed to a verb 118

_Te_ prefixed to proper names 118

_Ngati_ and _rangi_ 118

_O_ and _A_, distinction between 118-120

CHAP. XVI.

SYNTAX OF THE ADJECTIVES.

Position of adjectives 121

Verbal adjectives 121

Exceptions 121-122

Many adjectives to one substantive 122

One adjective to two or more substantives 122-123

Of the forms occasionally assumed by the adjective 123

Comparison of adjectives 123-125

CHAP. XVII.

SYNTAX OF NUMERALS.

Particles prefixed to numerals 126-127

Case following 127

Position of numeral 127

Repetition of numeral 127-128

_Tua_ and _whaka_ as numeral prefixes 128-129

CHAP. XVIII.

SYNTAX OF PRONOUNS.

Position of pronouns 130

Often omitted 130-131

Singular and dual often denote a tribe 131

----Other uses of 131

A Pronoun in the singular will refer to a noun

in the plural 131

----in the third person will refer to the first

or second person 131-132

----used for the conjunction _and_ 132

The noun belonging to the pronoun often omitted 132

_Relative Pronouns_, the substitutes for them 132-133

_Demonstrative Pronouns._

----useful as auxiliaries 133

----other peculiarities of 133-134

_Nei_, _na_, and _ra_ 134

Interrogative Pronouns (strange use of) 134-135

CHAP. XIX.

SYNTAX OF THE VERB.

_The Verbal Particles._

_E_ 136-137

_Ana_ 137

_E--ana_ 138

_Ka_ 138-139

_I_ 139

_Kua_ 139-142

_Kia_ 143-144

_Kia_ and _ki te_, distinction between 144

Sometimes no verbal particle prefixed 144-145

_Ai_, as used in connexion with the verb 145-147

_Whaka_, uses of 147-149

Adverbs as auxiliaries 149

Defect of substantive verb, how supplied 149-150

Prepositions as auxiliaries 150

Tendency of Maori verb to assume the form of a substantive 150-152

The finite verb may follow the oblique case 152

Predication performed by the possessive case 152-155

Compound tenses 155

Other circumstances which affect the time or voice of a verb 155-159

Verbs associated to qualify each other 159

Repetition of verbs 159

----of other words 159-160

_Passive verbs_, use of 160

Sometimes supplanted by the active 160-162

_Neuter verbs_ which assume the passive form 162

CHAP. XX.

OF THE PREPOSITIONS, ADVERBS, AND CONJUNCTIONS.

163-167

CHAPTER I.

OF THE PRONUNCIATION OF MAORI.

THE LETTERS OF MAORI ARE AS FOLLOWS:

NAME.

A. | _a_ as in f_a_ll f_a_t.

E. | _e_ as a in _a_corn.

H. | _ha_.

I. | _i_ as i in French or _ee_ in sl_ee_p.

K. | _ka_.

M. | _ma_.

N. | _na_.

O. | _o_.

P. | _pa_.

R. | _ra_.

T. | _ta_.

U. | _u_.

W. | _wa_.

NG. | _nga_.

OF THE SOUNDS OF THE VOWELS.

Has three sounds; the slender, somewhat broader, and the full broad

sound.

1. The slender, as in hat, pat.

2. The somewhat broader; as in mar, far, father.

3. The full broad; as in wall, hall, &c.

The following is a list of words classified under these heads:

1. | 2. | 3.

| |

p_a_tu, _to strike_. | p_a_tu, _partition of a |

| house_. |

| |

m_ă_tu_a_, _a father_. | m_ā_tua, _fathers_. | whana, _to kick_.

| |

m_ă_r_a_m_a_, _the | m_ā_rama, _tight_. | wahi, _a place_.

moon_. | |

| |

t_a_ki, _to drag a canoe | t_a_ki, _take from the | whaki, _to confess_.

in water_. | fire_. |

| |

m_a_teng_a_, _death_. | m_a_tenga, _head_. | ware, _a plebeian_.

| |

t_ă_ringa, _ear_. | t_ā_ringa, _waiting |

| for_. |

| |

p_ă_k_a_ru, _broken_. | p_ā_karua, v. p. |

| _broken_. |

| |

p_a_keke, _hard_. | p_a_keke, _to creak_. |

| |

t_ă_ng_a_t_a_, _a man_. | ..... ..... | t_ā_ngata, _men_.

| |

t_a_hu, _to burn_. | tahuhu, _a ridgepole_. | whare, _a house_.

| |

The second and third head differ but little from each other, and it

sometimes may be difficult to decide under which of the two the sound

should be classed.

The reader is requested to notice that the distinctions above made,

are not founded so much on the length of the sound, as on the

differences of the sounds themselves. If the length of the sound be

considered, other classes, (at least two,) might easily be

established; but the learner would, we fear, be more perplexed than

benefitted by the addition.

The speaker should remember that in some compound words the last

syllable of the first word, if it end in a, is pronounced strong;

_e. g._

Patungā-poaka; _place where pigs are killed_. Ma-hingā-kai; _a

cultivation_. Matā-pu; _the lead of a gun, a bullet_. Ta te

tutuā tu; _the plebeian's manners_.

NOTE.--There are exceptions to this rule which it would be well for

the student of observation to notice.

In pronouncing such words as kata, mata, tata, the speaker must be

careful not to slur over the first _a_, as if it were k_e_ta, m_e_ta,

&c. It should be pronounced clearly and distinctly.

Is pronounced as _a_ in bate, hate, &c., only not quite so slow, or so

broad. Perhaps the final _e_ in the French words café, felicité, would

be a closer resemblance; e. g., koe, rea, re, ket_e_, ma_te_, _te_nei,

rer_e_.

(2.) As _e_ in _poe_tical, _th_ere; e. g., _te_na, _ren_ga-_ren_ga,

_ke_te, _re_re.

Few sounds in Maori are more frequently mis-pronounced by foreigners

than _e_. To_he_, nga_re_, ku_mea_, ho_ea_ mai _te_ waka, _te_

reinga, _te_ rangi, rew_er_a, kor_er_o, have been all so carelessly

pronounced as to sound to the native ear as if spelt, to_hi_, ngari,

kumia, ho_ia_ mai _ti_ waka, _to_ reinga, _to_ rangi, Rewara, kororo.

The reader should also be careful not to give _e_ the dipthongal

sound of ei; as in ne the interrogative particle, &c.

I is pronounced like the French _i_; as _ee_ in sleep, green, &c.;

when distinctly and fully pronounced it imparts much melodiousness to

the sentence; e. g. ar_i_k_i_, k_ī_k_i_, _to chatter_, &c.

In the following it has a shorter sound: k_ĭ_ki, _crowded_; m_ĭ_ti,

t_ĭ_ti, &c.

N. B.--The speaker should be careful not to confound _i_ with the

Maori _e_; as in such words as wakatoi, hoi, &c.

Has a long and a short sound, a long; as toto, _to drag_.

A short; as toto, _blood_.

N. B.--We have no sound in Maori to correspond to the o in _not_,

_hot_, _pot_, &c.

This sound is also uniform in kind, and always corresponds to _oo_ in

b_oo_k, &c. It sometimes, however, experiences a more quick, sometimes

a more slow pronunciation.

The following table exhibits two variations beginning with the

shorter:--

1. | 2.

t_ŭ_ri, _a knee_. | tŭt_ū_, _disobedient_.

tŭtŭ, _same as tupakihi of_ Ngapuhi. | tūtū (manu), _a birdstand_.

kŭkŭ, _a shell_. | kūkū, _a pigeon_.

kŭhu. | tūtūa.

| h_ū_na.

ŭtŭ, _to pay_. | ūtu, _to draw water_.

In pronouncing _u_ the speaker will have to guard against the error

of those who prefix the aspirate when no aspirate is admissible.

According to them _u_, _utu_, &c., are pronounced as if spelt _hu_,

_hutu_.

He will also have to beware of the more common and stubborn error of

giving _u_ the dipthongal sound of _u_ in _cube_,

_tube_, _mute_, &c.--tonu, ketu, tonutia, are, in this way,

pronounced as if spelt ton_iu_, toniutia, ketiu.

_U_, again, is sometimes, by careless speakers, confounded with _o_,

and _vice versâ_. Thus ihu, _nose_; niho, _tooth_; have been

erroneously pronounced as if spelt iho, nihu.

OF THE DIPTHONGS.

This portion of Maori literature has been as yet but little explored;

and as each person's notions will vary with the acuteness of his ear,

and the extent to which his judgment has been exercised, we may be

prepared to expect a considerable discrepancy of opinion.

We shall therefore proceed with caution, and offer only what may be

most useful, and most necessary for the student.

The field of discussion may be much limited if we first define what we

mean by the word "dipthong."

The best definition we can find, and the one most suited to the nature

of the dipthong, is, we think, that of Mr Smith, in Walker. "A

dipthong," he says, "I would define to be two simple vocal sounds

uttered by one and the same emission of breath, and joined in such a

manner that each loses a portion of its natural length; but from the

junction produceth a compound sound equal in the time of pronouncing

to either of them taken separately, and so making still but one

syllable."

Following this definition, three tests for a dipthong suggest

themselves.

1. The emission of the two sounds by the same breath.

2. Their amalgamation, or more correctly, their coalescing; for each

vowel in the Maori dipthong is distinctly heard.

3. The abbreviation of the natural length of each simple sound.

In applying these rules to the dipthongs, it will be perhaps most

prudent to divide them, under the present imperfect state of our

knowledge, into two classes. 1. The certain, or those of the

dipthongal character of which there can be but little question. 2. The

doubtful, or those upon which inquirers may be likely to entertain

different opinions.

The dipthongs which we consider certain, are as follows:

aa, ae, ai, ao, au, ee, ei, ii, oo, ou, uu.

On these we will offer a few remarks.

Those dipthongs which are formed by a double letter, such as _aa_, are

distinguished by a stronger and fuller sound; as in Wakaaro,

rap_uu_tu, &c.

Is a sound for which it is difficult to find a parallel in English,

and which most speakers confound with _ai_ in such words as waewae,

waeroa, paewae, &c.

The English _aye_ comes perhaps closer to it. It must be pronounced

broad and open, and care must be taken to keep out the squeezed sound

of the i.

May be well represented by the _i_ in shine.

Has no representative in English that we are aware of. In pronouncing

it, the speaker must be careful to let the _o_ be distinctly, but not

too prominently, heard; and considerable care will be required to keep

it distinct from _au_ in the following words, as otawhao, whawhao,

tao, hao, &c.: neither again must the speaker divide the dipthong into

two syllables, as some speakers do in otaota, &c.

May be pronounced like ou in drought, trout, pound, &c.

May be represented by the _ai_ in _hail_, _pail_, &c. Care must be

taken not to suppress altogether the _i_, as is sometimes done in such

words as ten_e_i, penei, &c.

Is a sound of some difficulty. There is no sound that we are aware of

in the English language that exactly corresponds to it. Low, sow, mow,

&c., may be made to resemble it, by pronouncing them slowly, and

letting the sound die away into _u_.

Most foreigners are apt to pronounce it as a simple _o_. The first

syllable of _koutou_ is one of very difficult pronunciation. Without

great care it will be variously pronounced, as if koitou, kotou, or

kutu.

By not attending to these distinctions the speaker will often lose

the benefit of a good thought. A speaker, guarding his hearers

against spiritual temptations, borrowed his illustration from a

_poukaka_ (the perch for the parrot by which it is caught,) telling

them that Satan often presents poukakas to attract them to ruin;

unfortunately, however, instead of _pou_kaka he used _po_kaka, _a

squall of wind and rain_, and only expressed his point by exciting

their risibility.

The doubtful class of dipthongs are au, (as in mau, _for thee_, tau,

_thy_,) ai, (as in maia, _brave_) ea, eo, eu, io, iu.

On these we do not wish at present to make many observations. We

believe that there is a considerable difference amongst Maori

speakers respecting them. Our own idea is, that there may be a few

occasions on which some might be considered dipthongs; and that those

occasions are, the position of the syllable, whether at the end of

the word, or elsewhere, as also whether it come under the influence

of the accent.

We cannot dismiss this subject without mentioning two particulars,

very necessary to be remembered by all who wish to attain to an

accurate pronunciation of Maori. First, as it is in English, every

sentence is to be pronounced as if one word. 2. Homogeneous vowels

will, when they meet, almost always run into a dipthong.

The following sentence, _koia i whiriwhiria ai e ia to ratou uri_, would

be thus pronounced by a native, _koiai-whiri-whiriai-eia-to-ratouri_.

_Koia ia i riri ai_ would run, _koiai-aiririai_.

This subject of homogeneous vowels coalescing into dipthongs, is one

which has not received the attention it merits.

OF THE CONSONANTS.

This is the same as the English _h_.

It is not however known on the western coast of New Zealand to the

southward of Mokau, in the district of Taranaki. Its place is supplied

by a curious stammer or jirk of the voice. A gentle sibilancy

accompanies its pronunciation amongst Ngapuhi, which some speakers

erroneously confound with _sh_.

K has the sound of the English _k_; as in kill, &c.

M. N. P.

M, N, P, have the same sound as in English.

R has two sounds: (1) rough; as in _rain_, _river_, &c.; e. g.,

kaho_r_e, _r_o_r_ea, roro, _r_oto.

(2) The second is more soft, and is formed by a gentle jar of the

tongue against the palate; so gentle indeed is the vibration, that

most foreigners pronounce it like _d_ or _l_, as in _r_aro, ru_r_u,

_r_imu, poua_r_u, pa_r_i, mu_r_i, ma_r_i_r_i, koi_r_i, ko_r_iko_r_i,

kou_r_u, ma_r_u.

This is a letter which few Europeans pronounce correctly. It is not

pronounced like the _t_ in temper, tea, &c.; but rather like the sharp

_th_ of apa_th_y, sympa_th_y, A_th_ens, apo_th_ecary. Those who watch

a native's tongue while pronouncing this letter, will find that the

rule for attaining this sound is, to apply the tongue, not to the

root, but to the top of the teeth, and hardly emit _a_.

Has two sounds, one simple, as that in wind, &c., e. g., wai, _water_,

waka, _a canoe_, ware, _a plebeian_.

2. An aspirated _w_, as in when, where, &c.; whai, _follow_, whare, _a

house_, &c.

NG.

The speaker should be careful, in uttering this sound not to separate

the _n_ from the _g_, as is sometimes done by foreigners. The _n_ and

_g_ intimately coalesce, and those who have learned to pronounce the

French _encore_ will find no difficulty in catching it. The following

rule will, we trust, help the beginner.

Press the middle of the tongue to the roof of the mouth, near the

throat, and simultaneously relax the pressure, and pronounce na. Of

course care must be taken that the tip of the tongue does not touch

the palate.[3]

Following is a table setting forth a few of the variations in

pronunciation of the leading dialects of New Zealand.

It will be observed that the name of a place is employed to denote the

dialect for which that place and its vicinity are remarkable.

-------------+----------+--------+----------+-----------------+------------

-------------+----------+--------+----------+-----------------+------------

Hei | Hei | Hai | Hai | Hai & Hei | Ei

Kei | Kei | Kai | Kai | Kai & Kei | Kei

Wha | | | | | Wa

Kua | Kua | | Koua | Kua & Koua | Ku

Kia | Kia | Kia | Kia | Kia | Ki

Topa | Tao | | | Tao | Tao

Roa | | | | | Ro

-------------+----------+--------+----------+-----------------+------------