Accidentally telling someone to "go and die" - A & O nuances: Written in a book doesn't always mean it's correct.

Kia ora! So this week I found and interesting piece from one of the very first Maori grammar books written.

A grammar and vocabulary of the language of New Zealand, [Thomas Kendall, 1778?-1832., Church Missionary Society, London, 1820].

The phrase is "Mou tenei toki". The implied meaning is "For you is this axe", however the use of using "mou" here signals that the axe is to be used on said person, rather than being used by the person. This nuance of A & O can drastically change the intention of a phrase.

It reminds me of the awkward Coca-Cola ad "Kia ora Mate!"

Anyways I've included references to additional writings regarding A and O by Ray Harlow.

Ta Rei Harau - e noho a ana nga taputapu hei whakamahia ai e te tangata.

Small, portable objects which are owned by the possessor, eg books, toys, tools, cups. The reason for the a in these cases is control - the possessor controls, carries or manipulates the possessum. [pg. 141, A Maori Reference Grammar, Harlow.]

This one is from the Te Wiremu:

He nohoanga moku e ngaro ai ahau i toku hoa ngangare. - A resting place for me where I shall be hidden from my enemy. [pg. 73, Te Wiremu]

References for the whakatauki and pangapanga are below:

whakatauki - he kotuku kai whakaata.[pg. 28 Te Kohikohinga Whakatauki a Raupo.]

pangapanga:

1. Ko whea te whenua e tu ana te hanganga nei a Ipo Tiketike ara, Eiffel Tower? - Wiwi, Parani, France
2. Na wai te ruri rongonui nei a Romeo raua ko Hurieta, ara Romeo and Juliet? - Wiremu Hakipea - William Shakespeare
3. Ko te wahine nei a Mea i whakamaoritia ra taua pukapuka. Ko wai tona ingoa? - Te Haumihiata Mason
4. I tangia ai te Mona Riha, ara Mona Lisa e wai? - Nihorarau Te Whiti - Leonardo DaVinci
5. Ko te tarakona nei, a Komoto, he kararehe aha a ia? - He mokomoko, he taniwha - Lizard.