Post by Kiwi Frontline on Nov 21, 2018 7:25:26 GMT 12
Nelson Mail 21/11/18
ORIGINS OF ‘‘PAKEHA’’
The usage of ‘‘Pakeha’’ is embedded deep in our culture, and opining as to its rationale is futile.
However, given the vast encompassment of the English language, it is peculiar that the only word to describe non-Maori New Zealanders is a Maori word – especially when any English word ventured by non-Maori to describe Maori can be denigrated or even dismissed as racist in these ultra-PC times. ‘‘New Zealanders’’ and ‘‘Kiwis’’ embrace both races.
Many explanations as to the origin of ‘‘Pakeha’’ have been attempted – the singular difficulty being that ‘‘Pakeha’’ simply doesn’t fit with any of the stems of Maori parlance.
It probably evolved in the early days of Maori/European contact, when non English-speaking Maori heard the language of ruffian crews of whalers and sealers constantly cursing each other with ‘‘bugger ya’’. Use of the expletive would have been globally prevalent, and understandably adopted by listening Maori as a description for those distinct and different to them.
JIM CABLE,
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers
ORIGINS OF ‘‘PAKEHA’’
The usage of ‘‘Pakeha’’ is embedded deep in our culture, and opining as to its rationale is futile.
However, given the vast encompassment of the English language, it is peculiar that the only word to describe non-Maori New Zealanders is a Maori word – especially when any English word ventured by non-Maori to describe Maori can be denigrated or even dismissed as racist in these ultra-PC times. ‘‘New Zealanders’’ and ‘‘Kiwis’’ embrace both races.
Many explanations as to the origin of ‘‘Pakeha’’ have been attempted – the singular difficulty being that ‘‘Pakeha’’ simply doesn’t fit with any of the stems of Maori parlance.
It probably evolved in the early days of Maori/European contact, when non English-speaking Maori heard the language of ruffian crews of whalers and sealers constantly cursing each other with ‘‘bugger ya’’. Use of the expletive would have been globally prevalent, and understandably adopted by listening Maori as a description for those distinct and different to them.
JIM CABLE,
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers