He Pātaka Kupu

He Pātaka Kupu – the food of chiefs The Māori Language Dictionary Foreword Ideas for the dictionary emerged in the early 1990s when Timoti Karetu (the then Chief Executive of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori) discussed the matter with many people, including elders and word collectors. The Māori-only dictionary project began in 1999 due to concerns about the declining number of Māori speakers and the shrinking vocabulary of the Māori language. The dictionary was seen as a vital repository of Māori words, utilising technology to preserve and promote its rightful place. In 2001, a team of writers began creating the dictionary, and it was completed in April 2008. The speed of completion of a project of this magnitude (a dictionary with 24,000 entries) in only six or seven years is not commonly seen. It typically takes twelve years to compile most dictionaries of 12,000 words. He Pātaka Kupu – the food of chiefs is the name given to this dictionary. Introduction He Pātaka Kupu fulfills a critical need for Māori language resources for Māori language immersion settings. This follows the release of the dictionary for Wharekura students in 2001, Tirohia, Kimihia. The focus on a Māori-only dictionary was necessitated by the passing of native speakers and the rise of proficient adult Māori speakers. The creation of He Pātaka Kupu is a unique and new endeavour for Aotearoa, and indeed the world. As a project, its primary aim is to revitalise the Māori language across all sectors of Māori society. He Pātaka Kupu was created in response to the need to: 1. Capture the depth, breadth, and vitality of the Māori language within Māori society; 2. Capture and collect readily available Māori language information that is at risk of being lost forever; 3. Support the growth of Māori language learning, including language revitalisation, grammar, and Māori lexicography; 4. Consolidate human resources and pathways for the continued growth of the language regionally and nationally; 5. Support immersion schools and educational institutions for students and adults. KEY MESSAGES • He Pātaka Kupu was launched on 1 September 2008; • He Pātaka Kupu is a source of pride because the Māori language is used to describe itself and its world; • He Pātaka Kupu shows synonyms and regional variations of key words. This development has created a research base that will easily facilitate the future growth of other dictionary projects; • He Pātaka Kupu encompasses the breadth of both traditional and contemporary developments in Māori lexicography; • He Pātaka Kupu is an invaluable resource to assist ongoing efforts to revitalise the language; • Comparing He Pātaka Kupu's key words with those in the Wiremu dictionary shows 24,000 entries in He Pātaka Kupu versus 17,000 key words in Wiremu; • It took seven years to complete He Pātaka Kupu. However, it takes 12 years to complete other dictionaries with 20,000 key words.