May 02, 2014
Reo news baffles native speakers
The Maori language commission wants the flagship television news shows Te Karere and Te Kaea to use simpler language.
Te Haumihiata Mason, Te Taura Whiri’s kaitiaki reo, says many native speakers are confused by new words on the shows and are having to rely on subtitles to understand broadcasts.
She says news should be easy to understand by te reo speakers whether they are 8 or 80.
The commission plans to hold a wananga later in the year for those who work in the media and those who translate the language.
Te Karere presenter Scotty Morrison says such criticism isn’t new, but languages change and evolve.
He says the new words the broadcasters are criticised for using are often the ones created by Te Taura Whiri to address new concepts, or classical terms it has revived.
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