July 29, 2015
Grim history conspires to elimate te reo
A seven year study into Te Reo Maori has found the language was almost driven to extinction.
Professor Paul Moon who headed the research says the various forces of colonialism conspired to eliminate the language completely during the 17th century.
He says in 1800 everyone in Aotearoa spoke but Maori a century later only 5 to 6 percent of the population did.
Professor Moon says not only was the language dying but the people with it with the phrase "grim" probably understating what was going on.
He says it was more like a stretched out tragedy.
Professor Moon will be giving a free public lecture detailing his research at AUT on August 11.
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