microsoft describes maori language use as "strategic"

Encarta may be a minor part of the global Microsoft empire, but the cd-based encyclopedia packs a cultural punch.

"Maori is a metaphoric and idiomatic language, which uses ambiguity strategically to reduce the emphasis on differences," observes encyclopedia authors, "thus making it easier to reach consensus."
In doing so, Microsoft makes rare commentary on the essential nature of the Maori language - suggesting how it might difffer in use from other languages.

Under "Maori Language or Te Reo Mäori", Encarta draws from  Ethnologue: Languages of the World, produced by SIL International, describing Maori as a "language from the Oceanic sub-group of the Austronesian language family, spoken by up to 170,000 in New Zealand where it shares status as an official language with English."

Encarta also acknowledges Maori as a pan-pacific language.

"It is one of seven languages—including Rarotongan (Cook Islands Maori) and Tahitian—that make up the Tahitic subset of the Oceanic languages."

There are still gaps to plug.

One error is writing "Te Reo Maori" in first letter capitals - in the middle of a sentence.

Only one word - Maori - is capitalised by most writers.

In another section, on French Polynesia, the US-based Encarta identifies languages in the territory only as "Polynesian" but contains no reference to Maohi - the local version of the word, as is Maoli in Hawaii.

Neither word was found, despite Hawaii being a US state.

Macrons also cause some problems, appearing on Encarta compact disc as a European style double dot above the a in the word Maori, rather than a horizontal bar in the same place.

This is despite Microsoft being the first major software developer to produce a special set of characters, especially for Aotearoa Maori, last year.

Overall, however, there is brief but balanced commentary.

"Many Maori leaders view learning their own language as an essential step towards the rediscovery of Maori identity, reads the encyclopedia. 

"In 1982, the first special sessional or all-day Maori language immersion early childhood centres known as kohanga reo (“language nests”) were established for pre-school pakeha (white) and Maori children. There are now 13,000 children enrolled in more than 700 kohanga reo centres throughout New Zealand, although there are few Maori primary and secondary schools to continue the exposure to the language."

Short details on Maori language form part of a much bigger section on Maori generally, concentrating almost exclusively on Aotearoa.