New and complete manual of Maori conversation : containing phrases and dialogues on a variety of useful and interesting topics : together with a few general rules of grammar : and a comprehensive vocabulary [electronic resource]

Aubert, New & Complete Manual of Maori Conversation (1885) (title page image)

NEW AND COMPLETE MANUAL
OF
MAORI
CONVERSATION:
CONTAINING
PHRASES AND DIALOGUES
ON
A VARIETY OF USEFUL AND INTERESTING TOPICES,
TOGETHER WITH
A FEW GENERAL RULES OF GRAMMAR;
AND A
COMPREHENSIVE VOCABULARY

BY SA

Wellington, N.Z.:
Lyon and Blair, Printers Lampton Quay
MDCCCLXXXV
Rights Reserved.

PREFACE.

Having often heard people express astonishment and disappointment at not being able to procure any book that would help them to acquire a little practical knowledge of the Maori Language, we have thought that a small pocket conversation book might be welcome, and have set to work to write it. We have no pretension to give anything complete or perfect, our only object is to give people who have no time to sit down and study at length, a chance of being able to understand the most useful topics and to ask for the most necessary things.

The Maori Language being so very different from the European Languages and having so many different dialects, it makes a difficult, if not impossible, task to write anything that would suit the taste of everybody. We have lived ourselves for many years among many tribes and we have tried to so frame our sentences that they would be understood through at least the whole North Island. We have endeavoured to translate the exact meaning of the sentences more than the literal meaning of each word, for this second mode of translation would in many cases convey a widely different sense of the sentence. We also beg to remark that we have endeavoured to make this little book useful to Maoris as well as to Europeans, and have, therefor, used expressions and written on subjects which may appear out of place in an ordinary book of conversation. We have a special chapter on New Zealand and the Maoris that may interest strangers or new comers, who wish to know something about this country. We give a few general rules of grammar to gratify the reader's curiosity. We hope that our exertions will not have been vain towards promoting the improvement of a few of our readers.

114

This pork is very sweet E reka rawa te poaka nèi

Give me some pickles Ho mai etahi pikera

Pepper and salt He pepe tote

Here is some good wine Tênei tetahi waina pai rawa

I am a teetotaller, and do not taste wine He titotara ahau, e kore ahau e inu i te waina

I have done Ka mutu tāku kai

XVII.-TO WRITE A LETTER.
Mo te tuhituhi pukapuka reta nèi.

Is this a post day? He rā mëëra pea Tênei

On what day does the mail go? He aha te rāngi e haere ai te mëëra?

Every Monday I nga manèi katoa

I wish to write Ka pirangi ahau ki te tuhituhi

Give me, if you please, some paper, a pen and ink Ki te mea ka pai koe, ho mai he pepa, he pene me tetahi iniki

Give me a pencil Ho mai he pene rakau

Give me a penknife Ho mai he pene naihi

What day of the month is this? Ko tēhea rā Tênei o te marama?

The ninth instant Ko te iwa

Look at the almanack Tirohia te pukapuka maramatakahaere

Where are the envelopes Keihea nga whare pukapuka?

Send up that parcel Tukuna atu têna takai

Put the direction on it Tuhia te ingoa o te kāinga ki runga

Take this letter to the post-office Mauria Tênei pukapuka ki te poutapeta

115

Have you any money? He moni ranèi ōu?

I have sixpence He hikipene tāku

Buy some stamps for me Hokona mai etahi pane kuini mōku

Is the post gone? Kua riro pea te mëëra?

Is the post come? Kua tae mai ranèi te mëëra?

There must be some letters for me at the post-office Kei te poutapeta ano pea etahi pukapuka mōku

Are you bringing my letters? Kei te mau mai ranèi koe i āku pukapuka?

Are there any letters for me? He pukapuka ano ranèi mōku?

Do not forget my newspapers Kauaka koe e wareware i āku niupepa

Are these new books? He pukapuka hou ēnei

Whose letter is this? Na wai Tênei pukapuka?

For whom is this letter? Ma wai Tênei pukapuka

This is a good pen He pene pai Tênei

The letter is being written Kei te tuhituhia te pukapuka

The post-office is closed Kua kati te poutapeta

I wrote to you last month I tuhituhi atu ahau ki a hoe i tera marama

Martha, what is the name of your brother-in-law's place? E marata, e aha te ingoa o te kāinga otō autāne

No letter has reached us Kahore ano kia taemai he reta ki a matōu

No word from them has come to me Kahore he kupu a ratōu kia tae mai ki au

This is the first time I have written to you Katahi ano ahau ka tuhi atu ki a hoe

His letter is unsuitable Kahore he tikanga o tana reta

116

I have received the letter which you wrote me on March the first Tênei tōu reta kua tae mai ki ahau o te tuatahi o ngarā o Maehe

If you can give me an answer I shall be glad to receive it Mehemea ka taea e koe te whakahoki kupu mai ka pai ahau ki te whakarongo atu

I did not receive any reply Kahore i tae mai ki au te kupu whakautu

I was grieved at not receiving an answer I pouri ahau i te korenga whakautu kupu mai ki au

I have received your letter and telegram Kua tae maitō pukapuka metō waea

Your letter has been mislaid and cannot be found Kua ngaro i a matōu tōu reta, kahore hoki i kitea

I fear I shall weary you with the many letters I write to you Akuanèi pea te hoha ai koe mo te maha o āku reta e tuhi ai ki a koe

XVIII.-WITH A PHOTOGraPHER.

He kupu ki te kai mahi ahua tangata.

Let us go and have our likeness taken He haere tatōu ki te whakatango i o tatōu ahua

Will you take my likeness? E pai ranèi koe ki te tango itōku ahua

How will you have it done? Pewhea te tikanga o te mahi?

I wish to be taken standing Ka pirangi ahau ki te tu ki runga

Place yourself there, if you please E noho koe ki kona

Your head a little more orward Nukuhia mai tōu upoko

117

Please to draw your hands and feet in a little. Pepekea iti ihoōu ringaringa,ōu waewae

Turn to the right Titaha ki matau

You must look at this point Tirohia te mea nèi

Look at me Titiro mai ki a au

Now, if you please do not move Tena, E hoa kaua e korikori

This portrait is not good Kahore e pai te ahua nèi

You moved a little Kua korikori iti koe

You ought to be taken sitting Me whakaahua koe noho ki raro

This time it is perfect E pai rawa atu i Tênei taima

Now it is your turn, sir Tena, E koro, ko koe ano inaianèi

You must take us in a family group Tangohia tahi o matōu ahua

I will hold the child in my arms E hikitia e ahau te tamaiti ki oku ringa

I will have the baby on my back E pikautia e ahau te tamaiti kitōku tuara

Turn the baby this way Hurihia mai nèi te tamaiti

That will do Kati rawa

XIX.-OF SPORTING AND SHOOTING.

0 te pupuhi.

Are you fond of shooting? Ka nui tōu pai ki te pupuhi?

Very fond Nui rawa atu

I have several dogs He maha āku kuri

Is there a good deal of game in your district? E hua ana ranèi te mea hei pupuhi itō takiwa?

I have found you out Kua kite ahau i a koe

I will now bid you good bye, we shall meet again at Taranaki Ka poroporoaki atu ahau ki a koe, tera ano tāua e tutaki ki Taranaki

I am glad to see you E koa ana ahau mo tāku kitenga i a koe

I have come through love and regard for you all Tênei ahau, kua tae mai i runga i te aroha ki a koutōu katoa

I always remember you Ka mahara tonu tōku ngakau ki a koe

I have returned to this country to see my old friends Kua hoki mai ahau ki Tênei whenua kia kite i āku hoa tawhito

Come again to see us very soon Kia hohoro tonu te hoki mai kia kite i a matōu

Do not go yet Taihoa e haere

Give me your hand Homai tōu ringa

Take care of yourself Kia mahara koe ki a koe ano

Tell your mother that I wish very much to see her Ki atu ki tō whaea, ka nui taku hiahia kia kite i a ia

Warm yourself Painainatia koe

Farewell (to you going away home) Haererā haere kitō kāinga

Farewell (to you staying here) Hei konèirā

XXVII.-OF NEWS.
Ko nga korero o te ao.

Is there any news to-day? He rongo ranèitō Têneirā?

What is the news? He aha te korero?

What sort of news is there? Pewhea nga korero?

What news do they bring? He aha ta ratōu nèi korero?

I have heard of nothing Kahore ahau i rongo ki etahi korero

I have no news Kahore āku korero

I have not seen the papers Kahore ahau i kite i te nupepa

The mail has just arrived Kua tae mai te mëërainaia-tata-nèi

The news is very interesting; Ka nui te pai o nga korero

Are they official? He mea taia rawatia koia?

They say so Pena anotō ratōu ki

It is contradicted He mea whakakahoretia

There are different accounts He rere ke te ki o nga nupepa

We must wait for particulars Me tatari mo etahi atu korero

These are good news He korero pai ēnei

Did you hear that? I rongo ano koe kitêna?

Who reported that? Na wai koia ena korero?

It is the general report Ko te korero Tênei a te katoa

Everybody speaks of it Ka te korero a te mano Tênei

I knew it yesterday I matau ahau ki Tênei inanahi

I have some news He korero ano tāku

I bring you great news He korero nui tāku

There is good news Tena ano tetahi korero pai

There is a talk of war between the Great Powers Tena ano tetahi korero riri taua nui

I had heard of it, but I did not believe it Kua rangona ano, engari kihai ahau i whakaponohia

Parliament is opened Kua tuwhera te Paramete

The Members have not all arrived yet Kahore ano kia tae mai nga Mema katoa

The Ministry is likely to be defeated Akuanèi ka hinga te Kawanatanga

The Governor is absent Kei te ngaro a Kawana

Are you going to vote tomorrow? Hei apōpō ranèi koe e haere ai ki te pōōti?

Wellington has been stormed Kua horo a Pōneke

Do not listen to what he is saying? Kaua e whakarongo koe ki tana korero nèi

Let us hear the talk of the world? Tukua kia rongo matōu nga korero o te ao

I have already heard something about it Kua rongo ano ahau i etahi korero mo taua mea

Two men working on the railway line have been killed; they were run over by the train E rua nga kai mahi o te rerewe i mate, he rerenga no nga kareti ki runga ki arāua i mate ai

Terrible accounts have been received of a cyclone in Otago He nui rawa te wehi o te rongo tupuhi i Otako

Since that was written hater news has arrived Kua tae mai ano etahi korero i muri iho i te tuhinga otêna

A tidal disturbance occurred along the whole coast of Scotland Kua huri mai tetahi tai nunui ki te akau katoa o Koterani.

Disastrous floods in Spain have carried away bridges, railway, and other works Ko etahi pereti, me nga rerewe, me etahi atu mahi nunui kei Peina, kua pakaru kua riro i nga waipuke

Two deaths have occurred from smallpox in Auckland E rua nga tangata kua mate rawa i te mate koroputaputa i Akarana

Cards are the order of the day He kaari tonu te mahi i ngarā katoa

By a railway collision in America three persons were killed and thirtytwo were injured He tùtùkitanga i te rerewe i Amerika no nga kareti, kua tokotoru nga tangata i mate rawa; e toru tekau ma rua i mate kino, engari kihai i mate rawa

Fifty persons were killed by a dreadful colliery explosion E rima tekau nga tangata i mate rawa i te pahutanga o te au, i ka i te ahi i roto i tetahi rua keringa waro

The plague has appeared in Auckland Kuo puta te mate uruta ki Akarana

It is said that Parliament will meet on the 15th of June E ki ana kei te tekau ma rima o ngarā o Hune te hui ai te Paramete

Famine is raging in some parts of America; the people being actually reduced to eat roots Kua ngau te hiakai ki etahi o nga whenua o Amerika, kai noa te tangata ki te tarutaru

Is that a newspaper? He nupepa anotêna?

When did you hear about that? No nawhea i rongo koe i taua mea?

A severe earthquake occurred in Wellington Kua puta he ru nui ki Pōneke

XXVIII.-GOING AND COMING.
Mo te haerenga atu me te haerenga mai.

Whither are you going? E haere ana koe kowhea?

I am going home E hoki ana ahau kitōku kāinga

I am not going far E kore e mamao atu tāku haere

Do not be mistaken as to what I say Kauaka e pohehe ki āku korero

I am going to speak differently Ka rere ke āku korero i ana

For what reason did John ask Henry on what day we spoke last to each other? He aha te take i ui ai a Hoani ki a Henare ki terā matamuri i korero ai matōu tetahi ki tetahi?

Why do you refuse to speak? He aha tāu e whakakeke nèi?

You speak very fluently Patere tonu ana āu kupu

You have a very good accent E pai rawa atu tōu reo

I have something to tell you He kupu āku ki a koe

V.-OF READING.
Mo te Korero Pukapuka.

Do you read? E mohio ana ranèi koe ki te korero pukapuka?

I do not know how to Kahore

You can read E ahei ana ano i a koe te korero pukapuka

Where is your book? Keiwhea tōu pukapuka

Here it is Tênei ano

Whose book is this? Na wai Tênei pukapuka?

It is mine Nāku ano

It is your brother's(elder) Na tōu tuakana

Look for your book Kimihiatō pukapuka

Have you read this page? Kua korero ranèi koe i Tênei wharangi

Have you read this chapter? Kua korerotia ranèi e koe Tênei upoko?

You read too slowly E puhoi rawatō korero

You read too low E iti rawatō korero

Read loud Kia rahitō korero

Pronounce distinctly Kia maramatō korero

Spell that word Tataungia Tênei kupu

Read with me Korero tahi me ahau

I read with you Ka korero taua tahi

Who taught you to read? Na wai koe i ako ki te korero pukapuka?

Teach me Whakaakona ahau

Where am I to commence? Me timata e ahau i whea?

Of which books do you speak? Ko ehea pukapuka tāu e korero nèi ?

I did not hear what you read Kahore ahau i rongo itō korerotanga

You do not improve Kahore koe e puta

You are idle E mangere ana koe

You will be soon sent to school Taihoa koe ka tukua ki te kura

Let us leave off here Waihoia tatōu ki konèi

This is a good book He pukapuka pai Tênei

Read the first chapter Korerotia mai te upoko tuatahi

Repeat the second line Whakahuatia mai te raina tuarua

It is enough for to-day Kati te korero mo Têneirā

That will do Me mutu

Are you going to school? E haere ana koe ki te kura?

There is no school Kahore he kura

Where is the schoolmaster? Keiwhea te kaiwhakaako o te kura

He is gone, there is no more school Kua riro ia, kahore he kura

Have you a book? He pukapuka tāu?

I have no book Kahore āku pukapuka

Aubert, New & Complete Manual of Maori Conversation (1885)

Mother Mary Joseph Aubert's pocket-sized conversation manual was a run-away success for Lyon & Blair, with five editions and thirteen printings between 1885 and 1901. Aubert's first-hand experience with the Taranaki Maori and her mission to teach the language engendered a work which combines both an introduction to English speech idioms and their underlying cultural context, and an introduction to Maori customary practices extracted from Sir George Grey's 1853 Nga Moteatea.