Resumen de Māori Intergenerational Language Transmission
Te Puni Kōkiri [Ministry of Māori Development] undertook qualitative research into the factors that support or hinder the intergenerational transmission of the Māori language among Māori families premised on the notion that this is the cornerstone of the overall revitalization of Māori. The research was undertaken in four communities that reflect the diverse realities of Māori life; fifty Māori parents participated in eight focus groups over a two-month period. The research participants were asked various questions about their knowledge and use of Māori in family situations. The research was organized around four key themes:
– language knowledge: parents must have sufficient knowledge of the language and confidence in their abilities;
– situation: certain environmental factors encourage or hinder the use of Māori;
– motivation: parents must want or need to speak and transmit Māori to future generations; and – critical awareness: parents should be aware of the decisions they can make about the transmission of Māori to their children, and the consequences thereof.
There is significant overlap between the four factors and their various subcomponents. In reality, they are inextricably and organically linked in any individual. However, they have been arbitrarily divided here for the purposes of this report.
