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Loan words

Historical loan words

whakatangi

1. (verb) (-hia) to cause to sound, to play (a musical instrument), cause to cry.

Whakahīhī ana tā mātau whakatangi haere i ā mātau pūtōrino (HP 1991:33). / We proudly played our flutes as we marched along.

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2. (noun) playing (of an instrument).

Te Kāhui Tau, Rau-kata-uri, Rau-kata-mea: Ki ētahi kōrero ko te pūtake mai rāua o ngā mahi ngahau, o ngā mahi o te rēhia, o te harakoa. Ki ētahi kōrero he tuāhine nō Tinirau. Ko rāua ētahi o ngā wahine nāna i whakangahau i kitea ai te niho o Kae (Ngae, Kaunihoniho ki ētahi). Koia Te Kāhui Tau, mō te waiata, mō te whakatangi, mō te haka (M 2006:232). / Te Kāhui Tau, Rau-kata-uri, Rau-kata-mea: According to some accounts the latter two were the origin of the arts of amusement, entertainment, and pleasure. According to some they were sisters of Tini-rau. They were among the women who entertained and caused Kae to show his teeth (Ngae, Kau-nihoniho according to some). The term Kāhui (a tribal designation) Tau pertains to these two, and those who sing, play on instruments, or do posture dances (M 2006:233).

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Synonyms: whakatangitangi


3. (noun) musical instrument.

Nā te Pākehā katoa ēnei whakatangi, engari pea ngā tīpuna o Ngāti Whātua i whakatangi rōria inā hoki he kāinga tō rātou ko Tangi-te-rōria te ingoa (TTT 1/2/1930:1976). / These instruments all belong to the Pākehā, but the ancestors of Ngāti Whātua probably played the Jew's harp because they had a village called Tangi-te-rōria.

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Synonyms: taonga whakatangitangi, taonga puoro, puoro

whakatangi ā-taringa

1. (verb) to play by ear.

He pūkenga ōna ki te whakatangi ā-taringa i te piana (RTP 2015:124). / He has a skill to play the piano by ear.

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