We find the elements of culture—language being one of them—so fascinating. This post could be titled something like Similar…But Different Part 2: language. However, I think the movie reference title is particularly fitting. I have caught myself thinking more than once, “I am certain I know the words coming out of your mouth, but I have no idea what they mean in this context.” While language school isn’t needed, we’re getting schooled in a different use of language in our regular conversations. We find ourselves asking for a translation more often than you might imagine. It pops up in simple situations like when a lady at church said, “John looks so sharp with his new braces on.” John is an older gentleman, not likely to have braces in his teeth. The lady was commenting on John’s new suspenders.

In addition, there are two national languages in New Zealand: English and Maori. A few decades ago, Maori, the language of the indigenous Maori people, was nearly extinct. However, since it became recognized as one of the national languages of New Zealand in 1987, the use of the language has experienced a huge resurgence. Both Maori words and cultural elements are required in every school receiving government funding and have become integrated into much of everyday life for Kiwi natives and immigrants alike.

When I was a kid, I loved taking the Word Power quizzes in my parents’ Reader’s Digest magazines. (This is most definitely Elizabeth writing, not Jaron. ;)) Nerdy, I know, but it served me well. P.S. Did you know they have an app for that now? I thought it would be fun to put together a little Kiwi version for your quizzing pleasure. Some of these words are English, others are Maori. All of these words are words we’ve encountered in our normal day-to-day activities and conversations. We can’t wait to find out how Kiwi your vocabulary is! You’ll find the answers below a few of the pictures from this week.

Word Power: How Kiwi is Your Vocabulary?

1. Bench
   1. Something you sit on
   2. A counter
   3. Designated place for keeping shoes
2. Jandal
   1. Door knob, handle
   2. Idea
   3. Flip-flop
3. Sleep out
   1. Outdoor room
   2. A tent
   3. A sleepover
4. Ute
   1. Cooler
   2. Pickup truck
   3. Deer-like animal
5. Togs
   1. Gumboots
   2. Rain clothes
   3. Swimsuit
6. Entrée
   1. the main dish
   2. food served prior to the main dish
   3. to enter
7. Full on
   1. Fully dressed
   2. Active, busy
   3. Completely set
8. Dummy
   1. Fake person
   2. Item on store display
   3. Baby’s pacifier
9. Ice block
   1. Freezer
   2. Large brick of ice
   3. Ice cream bar on a stick
10. Kumara
    1. Sweet potato
    2. Jeep
    3. Fizzy drink
11. Capsicum
    1. Poisonous mushroom
    2. Bell pepper
    3. Native tree
12. Hui
    1. To gather, meet
    2. Hut
    3. Fruit stand
13. Bach
    1. Beach
    2. Musician
    3. Vacation home
14. Pakeha
    1. Sachel, carrying pack
    2. Person of European descent
    3. Pastor
15. Wahine
    1. Wife, woman
    2. Home
    3. Whiner, complainer
16. Kia ora
    1. Be well, heathy
    2. Speak life
    3. Love
17. Karakia
    1. Prayer, chant
    2. Special baked good
    3. Coming of age party
18. Dairy
    1. Place where cows are milked
    2. Corner convenience store
    3. Cheese factory
19. Nappy
    1. Napkin
    2. Diaper
    3. Cranky child
20. Sweet as
    1. Physically attractive
    2. Cool, awesome
    3. Sugary treat

 

Answers:

1. Bench
   1. Something you sit on
   2. A counter
   3. Designated place for keeping shoes

When you are finished eating, please place your plate on the bench.

2. Jandal
   1. Door knobs, handle
   2. Idea
   3. Flip-flop

Please put your other jandal on your foot so we can go to the park.

3. Sleep out
   1. Outdoor room
   2. A tent
   3. A sleepover

It was so hot in the house last night, we slept in the sleep out because it gets a little better air flow.

4. Ute
   1. Cooler
   2. Pickup truck
   3. Deer-like animal

I thought I would need a ute to pull a trailer, but then I noticed all of the neighbors have tow bars (trailer hitches) on their cars.

5. Togs
   1. Gum boots
   2. Rain clothes
   3. Swimsuit

Don’t forget to pack your togs for camp so you can go swimming in the bay.

6. Entrée
   1. the main dish
   2. food served prior to the main dish
   3. to enter

I had barely finished my shrimp entrée at the Turkish restaurant when they brought the biggest kebab I have ever seen as my main dish.

7. Full on
   1. Fully dressed
   2. Active, busy
   3. Completely set

That little girl is full on; she never stops running around!

Sorry I didn’t get to call you; my week was full on!

8. Dummy
   1. Fake person
   2. Item on store display
   3. Baby’s pacifier

Will you put that dummy back in her mouth so she’ll stop crying?

Also heard: That little boy spit the dummy (threw a fit) when I told him he couldn’t have any more candy.

9. Ice block
   1. Freezer
   2. Large brick of ice
   3. Ice cream bar on a stick

Would you like a chocolate or a vanilla ice block for dessert?

10. Kumara
    1. Sweet potato
    2. Jeep
    3. Fizzy drink

We love to eat kumaras stuffed, baked, or sliced into chips.

11. Capsicum
    1. Poisonous mushroom
    2. Bell pepper
    3. Native tree

Capsicums come in red, yellow, orange, and green, but I like the orange ones best.

12. Hui
    1. To gather, meet
    2. Hut
    3. Fruit stand

At our school, our hui time takes place on the rug at 9:00 each morning.

13. Bach
    1. Beach
    2. Musician
    3. Vacation home

                    Pronounced batch. We stayed at a batch in Napier for two weeks of our holiday so we could enjoy the sunshine and white sand beaches.

14. Pakeha
    1. Sachel, carrying pack
    2. Person of European descent
    3. Pastor

Hamilton, the city in which we live, is predominantly Pakeha, although there are many other ethnic groups as well.

15. Wahine
    1. Wife, woman
    2. Home
    3. Whiner, complainer

Elizabeth is Jaron’s wahine.

16. Kia ora
    1. Be well, heathy
    2. Speak life
    3. Love

                    Commonly used as both a greeting or a farewell.

Kia ora! I am so glad you’ve made it to our house without getting lost!

17. Karakia
    1. Prayer
    2. Special baked good
    3. Coming of age party

At school, we will say a karakia together before lunch.

18. Dairy
    1. Place where cows are milked
    2. Corner convenience store
    3. Cheese factory

Could you go down to the dairy and buy a newspaper, a gallon of milk, and a bag of crisps (chips)?

19. Nappy
    1. Napkin
    2. Diaper
    3. Cranky child

I am going to have to change his soiled nappy before we get in the car to go to the zoo.

20. Sweet as
    1. Physically attractive
    2. Cool, awesome
    3. Sugary treat

Derived from the phrase sweet as pie. Also heard in variations such as fresh as.

                    Sweet as! I love your new car, Mate!

 

Parting Shot