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Say it in Rarotongan’ reprinted

Sat 8 Dec 2012

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The iconic Rarotongan language guide ‘Say it in Rarotongan’ has been reprinted and is available at the Bounty Bookshop in Avarua. 

The author, the late Mana Strickland, was a leading authority on the language and history of the Cook Islands. 

Strickland was a member of an advisory committee on Maori language who were consulted in the publishing of the comprehensive ‘Rarotongan and Cook Islands Maori Dictionary’, compiled by Jasper Buse and Raututi Taringa. He was also a prominent figure in Cook Islands education and in his time served as a principal, a senior teacher-trainer and also as the Minister of Education for the Cook Islands. 

The book was republished in New Zealand with the assistance of one of Strickland’s daughters, Tuaine Bailey (nee Strickland), after many requests from educators in Rarotonga to republish the book. 

Bailey says the book is published mainly in its original form from 1979, but with a few added details about her father. 

The book was originally used for educational purposes supporting the oral approach her father used to teach the language. 

Bailey describes her dad as a man dedicated to the preservation of the Cook Islands language, spending many hours educating anyone interested in improving their command of the language. 

“Expatriates, volunteers, members of the clergy, university students conducting research, and in some cases Cook Islanders returning home after a lengthy stay overseas and wanting to improve their language, were always enthusiastic learners.” 

The handy pocket-sized book, measuring 17 centimetres by 11.5 centimetres, contains a wealth of information within its 64 pages.

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Bounty Bookshop staff member Ponini Ridge Nathaniel Ponini with the 2012 edition of ‘Say it in Rarotongan’. 12110622

While the lessons in pronunciation, commonly-used expressions and greetings, sentence structure and asking questions in Rarotongan Maori – as well as its 30 pages of vocabulary – are a well-rounded introduction to the language, Strickland himself mentions in the book that it was never intended to be a textbook. 

“It is designed to help you learn common words and phrases because, if you can ‘Say it Rarotongan’, you will feel more at home among these friendly people and will have a better understanding of their culture.” 

Bailey hopes that by reprinting the book her father’s legacy will be continued. 

“I know it was my late father’s wish that the Cook Island’s language was a strong and living language, a message he constantly gave us in the family setting and to all learners in the field of education and in the community.”

  • Ngariki Ngatae

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