Changes in the pronunciation of Māori and implications for teachers and learners of Māori

This paper discusses changes in the pronunciation of Māori and implications for teachers and learners of Māori. Data on changes in the pronunciation of Māori derives from the MAONZE project (Māori and New Zealand English with support from the Marsden fund). The project uses recordings from three sets of speakers to track changes in the pronunciation of Māori and evaluate influence from English. Results from the project show changes in both vowel quality and vowel duration and some evidence of diphthong mergers in pairs such as ai/ae and ou/au, especially amongst the younger speakers. In terms of duration the younger speakers are producing smaller length distinctions between long/short vowel pairs other than /ā, a/. We discuss the implications of such changes for those teaching Māori and for students learning Māori as a subject. These changes raise interesting questions concerning the pronunciation of Māori by future generations

/u/ fronting and /t/ aspiration in Māori and New Zealand English

This article examines the relationship between the frontness of /u/ and the aspiration of /t/ in both Māori and New Zealand English (NZE). In both languages, these processes can be observed since the earliest recordings dating from the latter part of the nineteenth century. We report analyses of these developments for three groups of male speakers of Māori spanning the twentieth century. We compare the Māori analyses with analyses of related features of the speakers' English and of the English of monolingual contemporaries. The occurrence of these processes in Māori cannot be seen simply as interference from NZE as the Māori-speaking population became increasingly bilingual. We conclude that it was the arrival of English with its contrast between aspirated and unaspirated plosives, rather than direct borrowing, that was the trigger for the fronting of the hitherto stable back Māori /u/ vowel together with increased aspiration of /t/ before both /i/ and /u/

Exploring the role of the Tissue Viability Nurse

Aim: To explore the role and identify key responsibilities of the Tissue Viability Nurse (TVN) in the UK. Methods: Mixed methodology using questionnaires distributed via SurveyMonkey and semi-structured interviews. Results: 261 respondents completed the online questionnaire and seven participated in semi-structured interviews. Of the 261 respondents to the questionnaire, 63.7% were employed as TVNs. Almost all respondents claimed to have access to a tissue viability service and the mean TVN team size was 4.7. Some 81.9% of respondents stated they had a team vision, with 75.9% stating that their service had set criteria for referrals. Analysis showed a statistical significance (χ2 (1)=16.6; p<0.001) between TVNs’ and non-TVNs’ knowledge of the referral criteria, with the latter being more aware. There was a variety of other titles used for the role, with interviewees affirming this was poorly understood by patients. Discussion: The results of this study identified that there is no national job title for the TVN role. Data identified that patients do not fully understand the title ‘Tissue Viability Nurse’. The TVN role is complex and not just about the management of a wound. However, what is also clear from the analysis of the data is that there are no clear criteria, or educational level, for the role. Data also suggest that review of current service provision, including partnership working with the multidisciplinary team and industry, is required to develop national competencies, guidance and quality assurance measures

Sociophonetic Markers Facilitate Translation Priming: Maori English GOAT – A Different Kind of Animal

This study investigates whether socio-indexical labelling operates under a shared or a separate system across the two languages of a bilingual talker-listener. We argue for a shared system, showing that L1 indexical labels interact with L2 indexical labels during speech perception. In particular, we investigate the effect of ethnic dialect on bilingual speech processing by using a novel cross-language/cross-dialect auditory priming paradigm in the New Zealand context, where Maori (TR) and English are both official languages, and English has two main ethnic varieties: Maori English (ME) and Pakeha English (PE). Fifty-four English-Maori bilinguals participated in a short-term auditory primed lexical decision task, where bilingual prime and target pairs were made up of English-to-Maori and Maori-to-English translation equivalents. Half of the English words were pronounced by a PE speaker, and half by a ME speaker, creating four test conditions: TR-ME, TR-PE, ME-TR, PE-TR. The results reveal a significantly larger priming effect between ME and TR than between PE and TR. We argue for a direct activation link between the Maori indexical labels within the English language set of representations and the Maori indexical labels within the Maori language set of representations. The results suggest that socio-indexical labels can facilitate translation priming. In particular, recent, more innovative variants appear to be processed as special in short-term memory

Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership (ENCAP), Community Needs Assessment: Douglas and Sarpy Counties

The mission of ENCAP is “to eliminate the causes of poverty by strengthening individuals, families, and communities through self-sufficiency initiatives in Douglas and Sarpy counties.” As shown in the logic model below, ENCAP currently provides behavioral health, nutrition, family development, and transportation services. The logic model shows outputs and short-term outcomes as expected results of providing these services, as well as the resources needed to accomplish these outcomes. Serving people at 125% of the poverty line and below, ENCAP’s long-term outcomes are to assist individuals and families in achieving economic security, having improved mental health, increased access to food, having strong intergenerational connections, and improving their communities. Also shown below is a brief description of current services, including the number of staff and volunteers, and the target population. The logic model can be utilized as a guide for selecting measurement tools and engaging in data collection, analysis, and reporting. STEPs has provided preliminary guidance for moving in this direction, and stands ready to assist

Leisure and recreation in New Zealand: A research register (1974-1991)

In March 1990 the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism at Lincoln University was commissioned and funded, in part, by the Hillary Commission for Recreation and Sport (now Sport, Fitness and Leisure) to compile a comprehensive register of research into leisure and recreation in New Zealand. The financial support of the Hillary Commission and Lincoln University must be recognised.A register of research on leisure and recreation is important to researchers, practitioners and students as well as to the generral public. The value of such a register is enhanced when it is assembled in concise format for easy reference and when it is an extension of similar projects from previous years. This register builds usefully on, and complements the earlier bibliographies of Jorgensen (1974), Neave (1977) and Middleton (1981), all of which are referenced in the present publication. The major aim of this project is to make available to researchers, and others interested in research, a listing of much of the research which has been conducted on this topic since 1974. The volume will assist researchers to locate reports or papers of interest and for their work. It provides a reasonably comprehensive picture of recreation research activity in New Zealand. Leisure and recreation research in New Zealand has been undertaken by a wide range of individuals and organisations, with much of this research not being readily accessible. Access to this infonnation was gained by researchers and practitioners drawing our attention to people and organisations involved in relevant research which otherwise might have been neglected. In addition the papers and reports held by libraries, unpublished material and research in progress is included in this volume. It is envisaged that the register, and in particular the researcher/practitioner listing, will have the useful outcome of putting researchers in touch with each other. Experience suggests that direct discourse between researchers is often as valuable as reading formal research reports. Leisure and recreation has been defined in the broadest terms. embracing recreational tourism and travel, sport and physical education, arts and cultural activities, outdoor recreation, home-based leisure, non-formal learning, and including those activities and experiences not always recognised as recreational, such as drinking, gambling and vandalism. Similarly, the settings and situations are many and varied, including leisure centres, sports fields, libraries, urban sub-divisions, rivers, ski-fields, national parks, beaches, hotels, restaurants, botanical gardens, zoos and shopping centres to name but a few. The disciplinary focus includes research relating to the social, natural and medical sciences, as well as the practical application of these. The nature of research has been interpreted widely, and includes not only empirical research, but also work which is conceptual and has a policy focus

Greater Omaha Chamber: 2017 Diversity and Talent Inclusion Study Final Report

Description of Respondents: The primary objective of this project was to hear from Black YPs in Greater Omaha. The efforts to achieve an adequately sized sample of Black YPs was generally successful. Of the 675 useable respondents, their racial/ethnic identities were White/Caucasian (n=399, or 59%), Black/African American (n=181 or 27%) and Hispanic/Latino n=32 or 5%). Retention: Omaha has been successful in attracting YP’s – of the survey respondents, 48% moved to Greater Omaha from somewhere else and another 19% came back to Omaha after living elsewhere. Retention is a greater challenge, as 80% of the surveyed YPs would choose to live elsewhere. The retention challenge is even greater when broken out by race/ethnicity – 87% of Black YPs surveyed would choose to live elsewhere. Fortunately, there is an important difference between choosing to live elsewhere and actually moving elsewhere. When asked if respondents intend to be living in Omaha in the next five years, only 15% of YPs said no. More Black YPs do not intend to be living in Omaha in five years (23%). Sense of Community: Black young professionals think it is important to feel part of the community, yet on each of the six related questions, they feel less connected than other YPs:• Feeling connected to Omaha (44% vs. 62%); and • Greater Omaha helps me fulfill my needs (43% vs. 67%). Lived Environment: What are those community attributes that matter to YPs? We asked three sets of questions – economic, social and physical – on two dimensions, importance and satisfaction. On each of these dimensions, we found sizeable gaps in responses based on race/ethnicity, particularly on the dimension of satisfaction; Black young professionals are generally less satisfied than other YPs.• Economic Aspects: local job opportunities and cost of living were most important to respondents and the gaps in satisfaction, based on race/ethnicity, were most noticeable. Black YPs were noticeably from other YPs in the following areas: - Availability of job opportunities (59% vs 80%); - Average income (46% vs. 66%); - Range of industries (53% vs. 70%); and - Affordable housing (54% vs. 69%).• Physical Aspects: the most important finding had to do with public schools. While nearly all respondents rated public schools as important, only 36% of Black young professionals were satisfied with public schools in Great Omaha (compared to 58% of other YPs). Black YPs were also 5 less satisfied with the quality of trails/bike paths (46% vs. 55%) but more satisfied with the availability of public transportation (31% vs. 12%).• Social Aspects: the importance of neighborhood friendliness and feeling safe were rated high by all YPs. The importance of neighborhood diversity varied based on race/ethnicity: 92% of Black young professionals rated diversity important compared to 76% of other YPs. Black young professionals were consistently less satisfied with: - Local arts and music (51% vs. 75%);- Friendliness of neighbors (57% vs. 80%); - Recreational opportunities (46% vs. 61%); and - Diversity of local residents (33% vs. 46%). Workplace: In the workplace, similar disparities were found based on race/ethnicity. Several responses to questions are highlighted: • Black young professionals are: - More frequently feeling overqualified (36% vs. 24%), are - Less frequently satisfied with their salary based on education and experience (39% vs 55%), and are - Less frequently satisfied with their current position (64% vs. 78%). • Black young professionals are less confident they have an equal opportunity to be hired in Greater Omaha (49% vs. 76%) and are less confident they have an equal opportunity for promotion or advancement (43% vs. 67%). • Fewer Black young professionals reported having a professional mentor than did other YPs (57% vs. 70%). • On the positive side, many respondents were satisfied with opportunities for professional development and there were only modest differences based on race/ethnicity

Language, identity and empowerment in endangered language contexts: Māori and Guernesiais

This chapter investigates the identities and motivations of learners of small, endangered and minoritized heritage languages, especially adults. Our case studies are from two contexts which have both similarities and contrasts: Guernesiais, a small, highly endangered language in Guernsey, Channel Islands; and Māori, a larger minoritized language spoken in New Zealand. We compare and contrast our findings with regard to salient factors that emerge as adults decide to learn these languages: motivation, identity construction and empowerment. Established frameworks of motivation and identity did not to match our contexts and emerging findings. Many interviewees reported being motivated by a desire to reconnect with roots, or to reclaim elements of their identity or culture which they feel have been denied to them. Our new speakers of minoritized languages actively seek revitalization through language as an enrichment of their individual or group identity, rather than profit- or prestige-related orientations, or lofty yet vague aspirations to ‘save the language’. The concept of muda, or ‘act of identity’ as a pivotal stage in learning a new language, is especially salient to our findings

Acoustic Analysis of Maori: Historical Data

We present initial results of an acoustic analysis of the vowel system of a native speaker of Maori, RTH, who was born in 1885. RTH was recorded in 1947 by the Mobile Disc Recording Unit of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service and the tape forms part of the Mobile Unit (MU) Archive at the University of Canterbury. RTH speaks in Maori and translates his material into English, though the English contains sections of whakapapa (genealogy) which are almost pure Maori. In this paper, we compare analyses of his vowel system when he is speaking in Maori and in English and also when he is using Maori words during his translations into English. RTH would have learnt his Maori at a time when influence from English was minimal. This analysis is therefore the first step in providing a reference acoustic analysis for the Maori language and for establishing the long-term influence of English on the pronunciation of Maori and vice versa. The analysis of RTH will be combined with an analysis of the other Maori speakers included in the MU archive together with other first language Maori speakers born in the late nineteenth century