FUTURE PERSPECTIVES TO REVIVE TE REO MAORI (THE LANGUAGE OF THE NEW ZEALAND INDIGENOUS TRIBE)

The current situation with the Maori language deserves our special attention due to its exceptionality and non-triviality. Nowadays this indigenous language, also known as Te Reo Maori, is the second official language in New Zealand, being declared as such in the Maori language Act in 1987. The word "Maori" means "common", though it is far from that description now. Te Reo Maori was spared from extinction by a number of rescue measures and miraculously remained afloat, however, today only 14% of Maori population are able to use it as the mother-tongue, and 41% of its adult representatives do not understand their "native" language at all, giving their preference to English. Totally, it is estimated from 100 to 150 thousand native speakers, although no more than 10 thousand people have an ability to speak it well. The present research is dedicated to the extreme necessity to evaluate the prospects of the Maori language development and its perspectives of the revival. Yet in the XIX century Te Reo Maori was the main language of New Zealand inhabitants. Nevertheless, with the appearance of English, its usage was increasingly confined and consequently by the middle of the 20th century the fears of the language extinction became ominously plausible. A special method of "language nest" proved its effectiveness and made the Maori revival possible, but its not enough. The strong influence of English, prevailing in all spheres in New Zealand, provokes destruction of the minority language. Moreover, the interpenetration of Maori and English is creating the new version of English which seize the population by its ease and practicality. A sociological online survey of 600 respondents on the RUDN basis of the student community with incomplete higher education showed that 78% of students believe in the need to study widely spoken languages and do not understand the demand to preserve minority languages in a globalized world, especially the Maori language to be spoken only by the small community on the edge of the world. 17 degrees A of respondents agreed that it is necessary to save and revive the language of the national minority as it reflects the history of its people, culture and heritage. This category of students was proactive offering the creation of a special website to find representatives of rare languages who would teach people around the globe and the community to deal with the issues of endangered languages. Also, they noted the wish to learn Te Reo Maori. 5 % of the interviewee were not interested in the matter of dying languages and haven't heard of the Maori language at all. Such results unfortunately indicate a very low level of motivation for the younger generation to support small languages and linguistic diversity due to the lack of understanding and awareness of their need. Students noted the uselessness of studying efforts in terms of the expectation of great returns. To cope with the threat of the Maori language disappearance and improve its prospects in the long term, it is necessary to consider such methods as: 1 education of the population, especially the younger generation, in the need to preserve the language of ancestors; 2 provide training of national language for teachers; 3 to hold youth rallies of native speakers of this language and culture; 4 financial support for radio, television, periodicals and books in Maori; 5 governmental programs of support.