Children’s picture books reflect changing attitudes to languages and can support revitalisation
The use of te reo Māori in picture books has been increasing since 1970. The relative space given to Māori and English reflects status changes of both languages.
Children's picture books have evolved to reflect changing attitudes towards languages, providing support for language revitalisation. Picture books featuring multiple languages can aid in learning and help shift societal perspectives on language status. In New Zealand, the use of te reo Māori in children's books has increased since the 1970s, mirroring its reclaiming and revitalisation.
Initially, te reo Māori was presented alongside English with equal prominence, as seen in Crayfishing with Grandmother (1973) and Pukunui (1976). These early books demonstrated support for a bilingual future and provided glossaries for comprehension. The trend continued into the 1980s and 1990s with books like Te Kuia me te Pūngāwerewere (1981), which was the first Māori and English trade book by a major publisher.
More recently, books like Reo Pepi (2015) and Kua Whetūrangitia a Koro (2022) have prioritised Māori text, recognising the need for resources in Māori homes and schools. The presentation of languages in these books often reflects societal beliefs about language, potentially disrupting or changing language attitudes by exposing readers to familiar and unfamiliar languages.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
