What is Arotahi ā-roto?
Ko te arotahi ā-roto he tikanga kōrero e here ana te tirohanga o te kōrero ki ngā whakaaro, ngā kare‑a‑roto, me ngā wheako mārama o tētahi tangata i tētahi wā. Mā te whakaatu i te ao mā roto i tēnei tangata, ka piki te piritanga ki te tangata.
Ko te arotahi ā-roto (i ētahi wā e kiia ana 'aronga ā-roto iti' kei kēia ranei 'third‑person limited') te tikanga e whakaatu ana i ngā kaupapa me ngā wāhanga mai i roto i te hinengaro o tētahi tangata motuhake. Kei te mōhio te pānui anake ki ngā mea e mōhiotia ana e taua tangata, ki ngā whakaaro, ki ngā kare‑a‑tā, me te rongo — ehara i te mōhiotanga motuhake o ētahi atu tangata, ake te kaiwhakāwhina e mōhiotia ana. Ka taea te tuhi i te tuatahi‑person (I) rānei i te tuatoru‑person (ia) ā, ā he mea whakamahinga whānuitia te mea pēnei i te 'free indirect discourse' ki te whakakotahi i te kōrero me te whakaaro. Ka taea e ngā kaituhi te pupuri i te arotahi ki tētahi tangata mō te kaupapa katoa, kāore rānei te huri arotahi ki ngā wāhanga rānei o ngā wāhanga kōrero.
Usage example
Tauira o te arotahi ā-roto: 'I mātakitaki a Maya i ngā rama o te pari e tārewa ana ki te wai. I pakari tōna puku — me pēhea e kī atu ai ia ki tana tangata te pono kore e whakangarohia te pō? I kī ia ki a ia anō kia manawa, me te tumanako ka kaha te hau o te moana ki a ia.' (E mārama ana tātou ki ngā tirohanga me ngā awangawanga o Maya anake; kāore mātou e mōhio ki ngā whakaaro motuhake o ētahi atu tangata.)
Practical application
Nō tēnei mea te arotahi ā-roto e whakakotahi ana i te here ā‑wairua ki te tangata ki tōna ake tirohanga — he mea nui mō te romā e kaha ana te kare‑a‑roto, te mōhio, me te hiahia ki te whakawhāinga i te pānga. I ngā kōrero whakahaere‑tia ki ngā kōwhiringa, mā te whakamahi i te arotahi ā-roto ka reri te kaitākaro ki ngā whakatau e whakaatu ana i te oranga o taua tangata, ka kaha ake te wā o te whakaatu i te wā, ā, ka āhei ngā kaituhi ki te whakahaere i ngā mōhio ki te kaitoro/kaitākaro ki te pupuri i te here me te ohorere.
FAQ
How is internal focalization different from first‑person narration?
First‑person narration uses the 'I' voice and is always from a character’s point of view. Internal focalization can use first person or third person ('she/he'), but the key is the limitation of perspective — the narrative stays inside one character’s mind whether or not it uses 'I.'
Can focalization change between characters?
Yes. Writers often switch focalization between scenes or chapters to show events from different characters’ perspectives. It’s important to signal shifts clearly (with scene breaks or chapter headings) to avoid confusing the reader.
Is internal focalization the same as free indirect discourse?
Not exactly. Free indirect discourse is a technique within internal focalization where the narrator’s language takes on the character’s voice and thoughts without quotation marks. It’s a way to make the character’s inner voice part of the narrative tone.