Comments on: What’s in a name?

By: Dad "Grumpy" Barr

Dad "Grumpy" Barr — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:12:39 +0000

Ooops – I meant “Ata”; the u I put in was a typo. When people ask me what his short name is, I have been saying Ata; much easier that way.

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By: JamesD

JamesD — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:25:52 +0000

Thanks for the useful info. It’s so interesting

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By: laurel

laurel — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:04:37 +0000

Ata dad, Ata. but good go!

🙂

p.s.

?ta
(particle) gently, slowly, carefully, clearly, deliberately, openly, thoroughly, cautiously, intently, quite – stands before verbs to indicate care, deliberation, thoroughness in carrying out the activity.

ata
(noun) morning, form, shape, semblance, reflected image, shadow

atu
1. (particle) away – indicates direction away from speaker or onwards following verbs of motion.

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By: Dad "Grumpy" Barr

Dad "Grumpy" Barr — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:42:15 +0000

Thanks for the great explanation for Atu’s name and you have to admit that this tupuna from Te Hononga o Amerika came pretty close to its correct pronunciation in the birth announcement that I mailed out to my friends and family. I guess I screwed up with the soft “l” sound in Po, giving it a long “o’ (Poe) sound, and in the rau part, giving the “a” a short sound, as in “raw”. But I did get the “Te” part right!!!

As far as your name, I know you have never been too crazy about it, but it could have been worse. We could have named you “Alice”!

Silly me, not remembering that “Po Atarau” is also the name of the song “Now is the Hour”, which is one of my all-time favorite NZ songs and always brings a tear to my throat and a lump to my eye whenever I hear it. I have always associated it with you and Chris, during that time when you two were miles apart. Now whenever I hear it, I will have a much more happy connection to it; little Atu.

Love all of the pictures and keep them coming!

Love,
Dad

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