Learning a new language. It’s a daunting
thing. Visiting a country which speaks a totally different
So why is this? Is it because we’re so far
away from the majority of other English speaking countries? Or is it due to the
merging of the English culture and the Maori Culture. Many people would bring
it down to the latter – just look at place names around New Zealand –
Whakatane? Whangarei? Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu? I’ve lived in New Zealand for my entire life, and even
I end up running myself in circles attempting to pronounce it. This place name
is given to a hill in Hawkes Bay, and the meaning of it is “the summit where Tamatea, who
travelled about the land, played the flute to his beloved.” If you encountered
a word of this length in Spain, or France, Would you even attempt to pronounce
it? Would you even know where to start? The same goes for foreigners who
migrate to New Zealand. They may think they have a very good understanding of
the English language, however upon arrival this could all be tested. They could
be asked if they are “Pakeha” or if they have their “Togs”. For a foreigner who
had never been to the country before, these words would be baffling – not only
because a large majority of words that have been integrated into kiwi “English”
have Maori roots- such as Pakeha and Tiki-tour.
However
it is not only these words with Maori-roots that have made kiwi English so
different to other forms of English, it’s also the words that have come about
as a result of the combination of so many different cultures and accents that
have been a part of the development of New Zealand and the culture and language
it has today. When looking through lists of words that are considered as being
commonly used by kiwi’s – and not many other English speaking countries – there
were many there that never occurred to me that they might not be spoken
anywhere else. This became apparent when a family friend visited us from
America. She had a distressing experience while supermarket shopping. She
walked around the vegetable area three times, before asking a supermarket clerk
where the “Bell Peppers” were. The man looked at her in confusion and pointed
her towards the chilli’s. She gave up in frustration, and it was not until she
returned home that we realized the kiwi term “Capsicum” is one that is not used
anywhere else. Words such as Capsicum
(Bell Pepper), Chilly Bin (Box used to keep food and drinks cool), Dairy
(convenience store), Gumboots (Waterproof rubber boots), Knackered (Tired),
along with many others, are words that have been developed in Kiwi English, and
are not used in many, if any, other English speaking countries.
There
are even more kiwi sayings that tend to baffle foreign visitors to the country,
although often these particular sayings are more commonly used. One of the most
popular is “Sweet as”. Kiwi’s use this as a way of saying something is great,
or allgood, or ok. You caught yourself a heaps big snapper? Sweet as! Your
cuzzie is having a Barbie this weekend for the whole neighbourhood? Sweet as!
You bought yourself a new ute for bugger all? Good on ya mate, Sweet as! Erm…
Come again? Would be the general reaction of a foreigner to any of these
sayings, and you may have left them feeling as if, maybe they HAD accidentally
caught the wrong flight to timbuctoo. But no, these are all sayings that are
part of the English language – just maybe not the English language they were
used to – these are commons sayings created in New Zealand, and are significant
aspects of Kiwi-ese. Kiwi English is so confusing to some people that
Settlement Support in Wellington have started running classes for immigrants to
the country to educate them in the vast amount of strange words we have created
down here in our little country. I guess that’s what happens when you’re
country has been formed out of such a melting pot of cultures.
So
Kia Ora bro, welcome to New Zealand, chuck on ya Jandals and togs, hop in your
Ute and come to the bach. We’re firing up the Barbie, and cooking a heaps good
feed, she’ll be right! Sweet as!
