A piece as related by a Maori about the Malays

His time studying Malay language in university was truly an eye-opening experience. A friend had mentioned to him that due to his linguistic background, he found the coursework remarkably easy. Growing up speaking Maori, he noticed many similarities between it and Malay.

This piqued his curiosity, so he decided to take introductory Malay classes myself. Right away, he was surprised by how familiar so much of it sounded. The grammar followed patterns he knew well from his native tongue. Descriptive words went after nouns rather than before, just as in Maori.

Pronunciation between the two languages also proved very comparable. Many basic vocabulary words I recognized, like how "pai" means "good" as both "bai" in Malay and in Maori. Other examples included "ika" for "fish", "rima" for "five", and "tangi" for "cry". These similarities made memorization much simpler.

When he had the opportunity to travel to Malaysia, he was further struck by parallels beyond just the language. As a Maori, it was odd to suddenly blend in racially with my surroundings. Locals often addressed me in Malay, assuming I was a local too due to our shared appearance.

Both cultures also value warmth, hospitality and present-mindedness. Malays demonstrated a friendly, welcoming nature reminiscent of back home. I could see why someone might link the genetic origins of our peoples.

Overall, finding cognates between Maori and Malay greatly helped his studies. It gave him confidence and motivation to continue, seeing connections to his identity and heritage. He hope sharing aspects of both cultures internationally will foster broader appreciation.