ABSTRACT
This chapter explores some features of spontaneous conversational narratives, one area where the ways of communicating appropriate to particular cultural groups may be a source of misunderstandings. It also explores potential areas of miscommunication between Maori and Pakeha New Zealanders, exemplifying with features of their conversational narratives. This chapter explains Maori people have many opportunities to absorb both the distinctive rhetorical patterns of Maori discourse, whether expressed in Maori or in English, and the values, beliefs and attitudes which distinguish Maori and Pakeha culture. It discusses some evidence from Wellington Corpus of New Zealand English of contrasting patterns in features of the conversational narratives of Maori and Pakeha New Zealanders, focusing in particular on the potential for miscommunication raised by such differences. The awareness of ethnic identity apparent in the Maori narratives is just one manifestation of the unavoidable, daily confrontations Maori conversationalists face as they attempt to communicate in a society dominated by Pakeha discourse norms.
