Features of NZ Language and Literature
Narrative point of view – who is telling the story. This will determine the tone and the language used.
Setting – ours is a beautiful, raw and sometimes harsh environment. This has influenced writers immensely. Nature and the seasons are often written about, in rural settings.
Tone – sometimes dark and moody, the NZ voice has increasingly been influenced by Maori artists and their humour, sometimes dark, is obvious.
Language
- informality
- Colloquial and slang language
- Vocabulary unique to NZ
- Idiomatic language (fed up, cleared off, got stuck in, better off, watch out)
- Maori words and names
- Interjections – aye, eeeeh, yeah na
- Ellipsis – omission of words
- Contractions “How ya goin’?”
- Imagery (similes, metaphors, etc)
- Cliches – overused words and phrases (as in sports commentary and interviews)
- Abbreviations – bikkie, choccies, rego, wof, gummies, chooks, beaut/beauty, uni,
Pronunciation
- Vowel sounds
- Rising intonation at the end of a sentence
Syntax – Sentence structure
