NCEA Level 2 Cook Islands Māori flashcards

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Cook Islands Māori language family

It is a Polynesian language of the Tahitic subgroup, most closely related to Tahitian and New Zealand Māori, and it is one of the official languages of the Cook Islands.

Number of letters in the alphabet

The modern alphabet has 13 letters: a, e, f, ng, i, k, m, n, o, p, r, t, u, v. The glottal stop and macron are diacritics, not separate letters.

The letter ng

Ng is treated as a single letter representing the velar nasal sound, as in 'ngā' (plural article). In alphabetisation it is ordered after n and before o.

Glottal stop ('amata)

The glottal stop is a written consonant marking a catch in the throat. It distinguishes words, so 'a'ā (to burn) differs from aa without the stop; omitting it is an error in formal writing.

Macron and vowel length

A macron over a vowel (ā, ē, ī, ō, ū) marks a long vowel. Length is phonemic: mārama (clear, understand) contrasts with marama (moon, light), so the macron must be written.

VSO word order

Neutral clauses are predicate-initial: verb, then subject, then object. For example, 'Ka kai te tamaiti i te ika' places the verb ka kai first, the subject next, the object last.

Particle kua

Kua is a pre-verbal particle marking completed or perfective aspect, roughly English 'has/have done'. It attaches before the verb, as in 'Kua oti te mahi' (the work is finished).

Particle ka

Ka marks future or inceptive aspect, indicating an action about to begin or yet to happen. It precedes the verb, as in 'Ka 'aere au' (I will go).

Particle e (progressive)

E before a verb marks ongoing or habitual action, roughly English '-ing'. It contrasts with kua for completed action and ka for future action.

Articles te and ngā

Te is the singular definite article and ngā is the plural definite article. Nouns themselves do not change form for number; the article signals it.

A-class and O-class possession

Possession splits into a-class (dominant: active control, food, movable goods) and o-class (subordinate: kin, body parts, inalienable items). The choice encodes the relationship between possessor and thing.

Possessive tāku and tōku

Tāku is a-class singular possession ('my', for things actively controlled, such as tāku ika, my fish). Tōku is o-class ('my', for kin and body parts, such as tōku metua, my parent).

Pronoun au

Au is the first-person singular pronoun 'I/me'. It follows the predicate in VSO order, as in 'Kua kite au' (I have seen), where the verb precedes the subject.

Pronoun koe and kōrua

Koe is second-person singular ('you'). Kōrua is second-person dual ('you two'), showing that Cook Islands Māori distinguishes dual from plural in its pronoun system.

Pronoun mātou and tātou

Mātou is first-person plural exclusive ('we', excluding the listener). Tātou is first-person plural inclusive ('we', including the listener). The distinction is obligatory.

Negation with kāre

Kāre (often kāre e) negates clauses, roughly 'there is not' or 'does not'. The negated verb typically follows with e, as in 'Kāre e kai ana' (not eating).

Question particle 'ē

Yes/no questions are often marked by a question particle or by rising intonation, with 'ē or anei appearing in some patterns. Content questions use interrogatives such as 'ai (who) and 'ea (where).

Numerals tahi to 'ā

Counting uses tahi (1), rua (2), toru (3), 'ā (4), rima (5), ono (6), 'itu (7), va'u (8), iva (9), ta'i nga'uru (10). The prefix 'e' precedes numerals in counting contexts.

Traditional greeting 'Kia orāna'

'Kia orāna' is the standard greeting meaning 'may you live', used for hello and goodwill. 'Kia orāna korua' addresses two people and 'kia orāna koutou' addresses three or more.

Formal register and 'tikanga'

Formal speech, such as on a marae or in church, uses honorific vocabulary and set formulae. Correct use of titles, seating, and greeting order reflects tikanga (customary protocol) alongside grammar.

Dialect variation across islands

Cook Islands Māori has regional varieties, notably Rarotongan (the standard written form), and distinct varieties on Aitutaki, Mangaia, and the northern islands, with differences in vocabulary and some sounds.

Loanwords and adaptation

English loanwords are adapted to Cook Islands Māori phonology, typically by inserting vowels to break consonant clusters and mapping unfamiliar sounds, e.g. 'tiriti' for 'street' style adaptations.

Reduplication

Reduplication of a word or syllable intensifies meaning, marks plurality, or creates a related form, e.g. repeating a verb root can indicate repeated or intensified action.

Verbal noun with -nga

The suffix -nga forms nouns from verbs, naming the action or its result, e.g. 'mā'anga' style formations. The suffix attaches to the verb root and takes the appropriate long vowel.

Directional particles mai and atu

Mai indicates movement toward the speaker or reference point; atu indicates movement away. They attach after verbs, as in 'haere mai' (come here) versus 'haere atu' (go away).

Locative prepositions i and ki

I marks location or the object of certain verbs ('at, in, on'), while ki marks direction or goal ('to, toward'). Choosing between them depends on whether motion or position is expressed.

Conjunction 'ē' and 'ā'

Coordination uses particles such as 'ē (and, joining clauses or noun phrases) and 'ā (and, often before numerals or in set phrases). The choice depends on what is being joined.

Reading macrons in poetry

In songs and chants (peu, 'īmene), vowel length and glottal stops shape rhythm and meaning. Misreading a macron can change both metre and sense, so texts are learned with accents intact.

Translating kua oti

'Kua oti' means 'is finished/completed'. Kua marks perfective aspect and oti is the verb 'be finished', so the phrase reports a completed state rather than a future plan.

Translating 'Ka 'aere au'

This means 'I will go'. Ka marks future aspect, 'aere is the verb 'go', and au is the first-person singular subject, following VSO order after the verb.

Titles and address terms

Respectful address uses kin and status terms such as metua (parent/elder) and papa/tāne-style titles. Correct use of these terms signals register and social relationship in formal contexts.

Writing a formal mihi

A formal greeting follows set structure: greeting, acknowledgement of the land and people, and reference to purpose. Accurate use of macrons, glottal stops, and honorific terms is assessed in formal writing.