Explanation of ahorangi

[ReeceRobinson]

On this weeks episodes the kupu hou from te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori is ahorangi (professor). We are told that aho means ray of sunlight and rangi translates to the sky. However the online dictionary differs in the meaning of aho. The dictionary definition of aho is given as: (noun) fishing line, cord, string, line, line of descent, genealogy, weft (cross-threads of weaving or a mat), medium for an atua in divination. Also in that very episode we were given hihi as the word that means ray of sun.

I'm a little confused ... does the dictionary need updating with this additional definition of aho?

Tēnā koutou!

[jarrod]

Kia ora Reece,

Yeh it needs to be updated. I couldn't find that particular definition in either the dictionary on this site, or the Ngata dictionary. I did however find a definition on the Kōrero Māori website ( http://www.korero.maori.nz/forspeakers/patakakupu )

aho2

1. Te mārama tino kaha. Me kore ake te rā me tōna aho i ora ai ngā mea oraora katoa o te ao.

Translation:
1. Very bright light. It is fortunate for all the living things of this world to have the sun and it's rays to keep them alive.

Nāku noa,
J

[Terrie]

I'm glad you guys said that. I've looked a couple of the words that Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori have come up with on Tōku Reo but haven't found them in the Te Whanake dictionary. I thought it was my spelling!

And I've noticed on at least one children's show on Māori Television that they are not teaching Te Taura Whiri's new words - maika being one of them. Maybe panana is easier to rhyme in song than maika? Yes! From time to time I watch the kiddies shows to see how many words I can pick out.

[jarrod]

Ah that's a new word for me, maika... I suppose the dictionaries have only put words that are more commonly used in everyday speech, but it'd be a great idea if they could enter these not so commonly used words in the case of someone coming across them in an obscure text.

[Hineata]

Ahorangi = Peripheral vision - Pakeha explanation, engari kia Maori te titiro, te whakaaro.

[jarrod]

Kia ora Hineata,

Ahorangi = Peripheral vision - Pakeha explanation, engari kia Maori te titiro, te whakaaro.

Āe, he tika tāu. He aho mai i te rangi hei whakamārama mā te hunga kūare pea?

[Taneipiripani]

Kia ora koutou e ngā kaitiaki o tō tātou nei taonga, o te reo,

Aho does indeed mean sunlight, ray of sunlight. It also means cord (as in a fishing line). On the surface, the two appear to be two very distinct words however if we think about what sunlight looks like (esp. as the sun appears at dawn) the connection between the meanings becomes clear - the sun's rays look like cords.

Now, to answer the question about 'what does ahorangi mean?' I think if you listen to the first 6 minutes of this clip - http://podcasts.tewhanake.maori.nz/inde ... whakarongo the meaning becomes clearer.