Page 180 - Handbooks of Applied Linguistics Communication Competence Language and Communication Problems Practical Solutions

158 Meredith Marra and Janet Holmes

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(1) Context: Rangi stands in front of the staff at a monthly staff meeting
1. Rangi: ae kia ora koutou [‘hello everyone’]
2. but before we start this is my magic box ngaru iti
[literally ‘little wave’]
3. ngaru meaning wave iti meaning in this context microwave
4. yes it’s twelve o’clock by crikey I’m hungry
5. I think I’ll shoot down the kitchen and make myself a kai [‘feed’]
6. grab the plate fill it up put it in the microwave close the lid
7. ring ring ring the bloody phone I’ll have to duck down
8. and answer the damn thing ring ring ring ring ring ring
9. pick it up the buggers gone hang it up
10. in comes a mate yackety yack yackety yack yackety yack
11. yackety yack ooh my kai [‘food’] I’ll race down to the kitchen
12. open the door bugger me days
13. the damn thing’s exploded
14. doesn’t matter I’ll clean it later [sings]: I kai [‘eat’] away I go:
15. poor old Yvonne comes down the stairs
16. open the microwave and someone’s spewed inside
17. so [in funny voice]: please team when it happens
18. clean it out straight away:

Everyone finds Rangi’s performance hilarious. He uses the cardboard box, his
voice and his body to great effect, constructing a convincing amusing persona,
namely someone who forgets he has left the microwave on with food in it. But
as well as being entertained, the team also respond positively to the message
that they should clean the microwave out immediately after using it. Rangi ef-
fectively makes it clear that leaving the microwave in a mess is socially unac-
ceptable behaviour.
This example illustrates a number of different points. Most relevant is the
skilful use of humour to convey a critical message effectively. This is typical in
this workplace where good-natured humour plays a significant part in interac-
tions, especially in staff meetings. Rangi’s performance (note that he begins by
referring to his ‘magic box’, suggesting he is a magician) will be remembered
for some time.
There are many features of Rangi’s presentation which mark it as Ma ¯ori,
and also as appropriate to this community of practice, in particular. Most fun-
damentally, Rangi does not direct his criticism at any individual. In Pa ¯keha ¯
workplaces, people often use humour to soften a criticism directed to a specific
individual (Holmes 2000). By contrast, Rangi aims his criticism at the group.
The problematic issue is presented as a group issue, and the complaint is not
targeted at any specific person, a very acceptable way of addressing a contro-
versial issue in Ma ¯ori contexts. Rangi’s strategy – ‘if the cap fits’ – is not ex-