“基维鸟”在歌唱——新西兰毛利人的诗歌传统

The Kiwi Is Singing ──The Tradition of New Zealand Maori Poetry

真正意义上的“新西兰文学”出现之前 ,新西兰已经有了独具特色的文学———毛利人口头文学。由于毛利人没有书写文字 ,口头语言是信息传递的惟一方式 ,他们的文化与历史只能靠口头代代相传。当然 ,他们口头相传的方式不是机械的背诵重复 ,而是配以诗一般的语言、动作、呼喊、曲调来表达 ;其内容涵盖广阔 :天地起源、跨海迁移、家乡逸事、祖先业绩、直至当代毛利人与白人的合作与冲突等。

Before the conventional New Zealand literature came into being, a unique oral literature had already existed in the native Maori people. For lack of written language, the Maoris passed on their tradition and history by word of mouth. But the way they communicated was not merely monotonous repetition. They would use poetic language, coupled with gestures, exclamations and songs. What they expressed cover a wide range of subjects: the origin of heaven and earth, migration, hometown anecdotes, ancestors' accomplishments, as well as the cooperations and conflicts with the whites.