It’s Māori Language Week, so let’s consider the wisdom of a traditional Māori saying, or whakataukī:
E koekoe te tūī, e ketekete te kākā, e kūkū te kererū.
The tūī squawks, the kākā chatters, the kererū coos.
This whakataukī refers to the wide diversity of forest birds. It calls on us to understand that, just as the various bird species have their unique plumage, habits and calls, so do people come in all shapes and colours, ways of life and communication styles. Just as a rich healthy forest nurtures all birdlife, a healthy society embraces all people, celebrating the differences that make each person unique.
One form of difference we may overlook or undervalue is the variety of ways that people communicate. Some people are like the tūī, loudly proclaiming what they believe, speaking up when others might stay quiet and asking questions others are afraid to ask. Others chatter like the kākā, amusing their companions, joking, keeping conversation going and easing social awkwardness with their inclusivity. Then there are those we seek out when we need comfort, who soothe and reassure, cooing like the kererū.
As humans we can access a wide range of ways of communicating. There will be times when we’re called upon to step out of our usual style and use different words or an unfamiliar tone, to suit the occasion. That’s when we can take inspiration from one another. If you’re usually a chatterer, you can look to the squawkers for examples of how to speak up when necessary; if your usual role is to coo, there might be times when it’s fitting to copy the chatterers; and a squawker can learn lighten their tone by emulating the other two. Each style is valuable, just like each forest bird.
Stephanie Hills ©