La llengua maori en el marc de la colonització

Resum

This article provides a cursory description of some of the disastrous consequences brought about by the imposition of the dominant English culture on the (dominated) Maori population following the colonization of the Aotearoa archipelago by the British. One of the most important instruments used by the English to implant their culture was language, since, among other things, language was necessary to ensure respect for their laws. In this way, English was imposed as the basic language for instruction, to the detriment of Maori, which was eliminated from the schools. Obviously, all this affected the indigenous Maori population, which found itself immersed in a state of collective cultural disintegration. On the individual level, the Maoris lacked a cultural reference point; they lacked a point of reference for their self-esteem. These circumstances are reflected in the higher rates of native Maori students dropping out of school, the greater percentage of native Maoris in jail, etc.