Samoa Languages: Difference between revisions

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{{CountrySidebar
There are 165,000 people in Western Samoa. All are Polynesian and speak Samoan. American Samoans also have a rich language that remains the main language of the people.
|Country=Samoa
|Name=Samoa
|Type=Topic
|Topic Type=Background
|Background=Languages
|Rating=Standardized
}}{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[Samoa Genealogy|Samoa]]
| link2=
| link3=
| link4=
| link5=[[Samoa Languages|Languages]]
}}
==Description==
Samoan and English are the official languages in Samoa. Including second-language speakers, there are more speakers of Samoan than English in Samoa. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Samoa," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoa#:~:text=Samoan%20(Gagana%20Fa'as%C4%81moa)%20and%20English%20are%20the,speakers%20of%20Samoan%20than%20English%20in%20Samoa., accessed 14 Jun 2021.</ref>


'''Samoan Language'''<br>
English is the second language and all islanders can speak English as well. There are several levels of spoken language. The high talking chiefs have a high oratory of rhetoric that only the indoctrinated can understand. They are the politicians and negotiators. There are regular chiefs that speak the everyday language of the people and get things done. Many have noticed how similar this is to mainland American society.
Samoan, a Polynesian language, is the first language for most of the Samoa Islands' population of about 246,000 people. With many Samoan people living in other countries, the total number of speakers worldwide is estimated at 510,000 in 2015. It is the third-most widely spoken language in New Zealand, where 2.2% of the population, 101,900 people, were able to speak it as of 2018.


The language is notable for the phonological differences between formal and informal speech as well as a ceremonial form used in Samoan oratory. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Samoan language," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoan_language, accessed 14 Jun 2021.</ref>
'''Palagis''' (caucasions) who try to learn are a great source of entertainment to native speakers. Learn to laugh along with them and be grateful their English is better than your Samoan!


'''English Language'''<br>
Samoan is from the Austronesian family of languages. It is closely related to other Polynesian languages, especially Tongan. Here is a very cursory overview of the language and some vocabulary.
English is the second language and all islanders can speak English as well. There are several levels of spoken language.


==Word List(s)==
Consonants: p,t,m,n,g,f,v,s, and a glottal stop, '
[[Samoan Genealogical Word List]]


{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders"
A glottal stop is when you start a vowel with your throat closed, as usually is done in English. If you didn't, the word 'apple' would sound like 'happle.'
! '''Brief Vocabulary'''
 
More letters k,h and r were added to the Samoan alphabet for foreign or borrowed words. To complicate things for the beginner, in the common vernacular some consonants are transposed when spoken: l for r and k for t. Thus the name Maria can become Malia and telefoni can become kelefoni.
 
The "g" is pronounced with "ng" sound, so Pago Pago is pronounced Pahngo Pahngo. You can have fun correcting your educated friends with this one.
 
Vowels: a,e, i, o, u pronounced generally as in romantic languages such as Spanish and Italian.
 
==HERE IS A SMALL VOCABULARY==
 
{|
|-
|-
| a  
| a
| of, particle used in many ways
| of, particle used in many ways
|-
|-
| a'oga  
| a'oga
| school
| school
|-
|-
| ai  
| ai
| eat
| eat
|-
|-
| a'u  
| a'u
| I, me
| I, me
|-
|-
| ali'i  
| ali'i
| man of rank, chief
| man of rank, chief
|-
|-
| alofa  
| alofa
| love
| love
|-
|-
| asu  
| asu
| smoke from a fire
| smoke from a fire
|-
|-
| Atua  
| Atua
| God
| God
|-
|-
| alu  
| alu
| go
| go
|-
|-
| aumai  
| aumai
| get or bring
| get or bring
|-
|-
| fa'a  
| fa'a
| In the way of, fa'a Samoa, the Samoan way
| In the way of, fa'a Samoa, the Samoan way
|-
|-
| fa'afetai  
| fa'afetai
| thank you
| thank you
|-
|-
| fa'amolemole  
| fa'amolemole
| please
| please
|-
|-
| faia'oga  
| faia'oga
| teacher
| teacher
|-
|-
| fale  
| fale
| house, falea'oga- school house
| house, falea'oga- school house
|-
|-
| galuega  
| galuega
| work
| work
|-
|-
| i  
| i
| in, particle denoting position
| in, particle denoting position
|-
|-
| ie  
| ie
| togafine mat
| togafine mat
|-
|-
| Kerisimasi  
| Kerisimasi
| Christmas. The Samoan word for Christ is Keriso and Kerisian for Christian.
| Christmas. The Samoan word for Christ is Keriso and Kerisian for Christian.
|-
|-
| lava  
| lava
| commonly used like saying "enough" in English
| commonly used like saying "enough" in English
|-
|-
| lavalava  
| lavalava
| clothes, particularly a wrap-around cloth
| clothes, particularly a wrap-around cloth
|-
|-
| le  
| le
| the, definite article, plural e
| the, definite article, plural e
|-
|-
| leaga  
| leaga
| bad
| bad
|-
|-
| leai  
| leai
| no, none, gone
| no, none, gone
|-
|-
| lelei  
| lelei
| good
| good
|-
|-
| lei  
| lei
| ivory
| ivory
|-
|-
| matua  
| matua
| parent
| parent
|-
|-
| mai  
| mai
| from
| from
|-
|-
| motu  
| motu
| island
| island
|-
|-
| moa  
| moa
| chicken
| chicken
|-
|-
| manuia  
| manuia
| happy, lucky, Manuia le aso
| happy, lucky, Manuia le aso
|-
|-
| manuia le kerisimasi  
| manuia le kerisimasi
| merry christmas
| merry christmas
|-
|-
| matai  
| matai
| title of extended family chief
| title of extended family chief
|-
|-
| o  
| o
| of
| of
|-
|-
| oka  
| oka
| okaoka, exclamation of surprise
| okaoka, exclamation of surprise
|-
|-
| papalagi  
| papalagi
| also palagi, anglos
| also palagi, anglos
|-
|-
| palolo  
| palolo
| segmented sea creature that comes out of the coral to breed (and be eagerly eaten)
| segmented sea creature that comes out of the coral to breed (and be eagerly eaten)
|-
|-
| sa  
| sa
| sacred, forbidden
| sacred, forbidden
|-
|-
| sami  
| sami
| sea
| sea
|-
|-
| sau  
| sau
| come
| come
|-
|-
| talofa  
| talofa
| hello
| hello
|-
|-
| tapu  
| tapu
| forbidden
| forbidden
|-
|-
| taupou  
| taupou
| title for position of village maiden
| title for position of village maiden
|-
|-
| timu  
| timu
| rain
| rain
|-
|-
| tofa  
| tofa
| goodbye
| goodbye
|-
|-
| toga  
| toga
| fine mat, very valuable
| fine mat, very valuable
|-
|-
| tupe  
| tupe
| money
| money
|-
|-
| tusi  
| tusi
| write, tusitala, person who writes stories
| write, tusitala, person who writes stories
|-
|-
| 'ukulele  
| 'ukulele
| small stringed instrument, you know it!
| small stringed instrument, you know it!
|-
|-
| 'ula  
| 'ula
| garland of flowers, 'ulalei, garland of ivory
| garland of flowers, 'ulalei, garland of ivory
|-
|-
| ulaula  
| ulaula
| smoke
| smoke
|-
|-
| ulu  
| ulu
| breadfruit
| breadfruit
|-
|-
| va'a  
| va'a
| canoe
| canoe
|-
|-
| va'alele  
| va'alele
| airplane, 'flying canoe'
| airplane, 'flying canoe'
|-
|-
| vai  
| vai
| water
| water
|-
|-
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|  
|  
|}
|}
<br>
 
'''Learning to Count'''<br>
'''LEARNING TO COUNT'''
1. tasi<br>
 
2. lua<br>
1. tasi
3. tolu<br>
 
4. fa<br>
2. lua
5. lima<br>
 
6 ono<br>
3. tolu
7. fitu<br>
 
8. valu<br>
4. fa
9. iva<br>
 
10. sefulu<br>
5. lima
11. sefulutasi, 12. sefululua, 13. sefulutolu, 14. sefulufa, etc.<br>
 
20. luasefulu, 30. tolusefulu, 40. fasefulu, 50. limasefulu, etc.<br>
6 ono
21. luasefulutasi, 22. luasefululua, 23. luasefulutolu, etc.<br>
 
100. tasi selau, 200. lua selau, etc.<br>
7. fitu
<br>
 
{| class="plain FCK__ShowTableBorders"
8. valu
! '''Colors'''
 
9. iva
 
10. sefulu
 
11. sefulutasi, 12. sefululua, 13. sefulutolu, 14. sefulufa, etc.
 
20. luasefulu, 30. tolusefulu, 40. fasefulu, 50. limasefulu, etc.
 
21. luasefulutasi, 22. luasefululua, 23. luasefulutolu, etc.
 
100. tasi selau, 200. lua selau, etc.
 
'''A FEW WORDS BORROWED FROM ENGLISH'''
 
{| class="plain"
|-
| Kerisimasi
| Christmas
|-
| kolisi
| college
|-
|-
| enaena  
| moa
| lawn mower
|-
| musika
| music
|-
| nusipepa
| newspaper
|-
| sikareti
| cigarette
|-
| telefoni
| telephone
|-
| televise
| television
|}
 
'''COLORS'''
 
{| class="plain"
|-
| enaena
| brown
| brown
|-
|-
| lanumeamata  
| lanumeamata
| green
| green
|-
|-
| lanumoli  
| lanumoli
| orange
| orange
|-
|-
| lanumoana  
| lanumoana
| blue
| blue
|-
|-
| mumu  
| mumu
| red
| red
|-
|-
| pa'epa'e  
| pa'epa'e
| white
| white
|-
|-
| piniki  
| piniki
| pink
| pink
|-
|-
| samasama  
| samasama
| yellow
| yellow
|-
|-
| uliuli  
| uliuli
| black
| black
|-
|-
| viole, mumu pa'auli  
| viole, mumu pa'auli
| purple
|  
purple
|}
|}
<br>
{| class="plain FCK__ShowTableBorders"
! '''A Few Words Borrowed from English'''
|-
| Kerisimasi
| Christmas
|-
| kolisi
| college
|-
| moa
| lawn mower
|-
| musika
| music
|-
| nusipepa
| newspaper
|-
| sikareti
| cigarette
|-
| telefoni
| telephone
|-
| televise
| television
|}
==Alphabet and Pronunciation==
Samoan is from the Austronesian family of languages. It is closely related to other Polynesian languages, especially Tongan.
Here is a very cursory overview of the language and some vocabulary.
*Consonants: p,t,m,n,g,f,v,s, and a glottal stop, '
*A glottal stop is when you start a vowel with your throat closed, as usually is done in English. If you didn't, the word 'apple' would sound like 'happle.'
*More letters k,h and r were added to the Samoan alphabet for foreign or borrowed words. To complicate things for the beginner, in the common vernacular some consonants are transposed when spoken: l for r and k for t. Thus the name Maria can become Malia and telefoni can become kelefoni.
*The "g" is pronounced with "ng" sound, so Pago Pago is pronounced Pahngo Pahngo. You can have fun correcting your educated friends with this one.
*Vowels: a,e, i, o, u pronounced generally as in romantic languages such as Spanish and Italian.
The '''Samoa Alphabet''' consists of 14 letters, with another three letters ('''''H''''', '''''K''''', '''''R''''') used in loan words. The '''{{okina}}''' (''koma liliu'' or ''[[ʻokina]]'') is used for the [[glottal stop]].
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;"
! Aa, Āā || Ee, Ēē || Ii, Īī  || Oo, Ōō || Uu, Ūū ||Ff || Gg || Ll || Mm || Nn || Pp || Ss || Tt || Vv || (Hh)  || (Kk) || (Rr) || ʻOkina|‘
|- style="text-align:center;"
| /a/, /aː/ || /ɛ/, /eː/ || /ɪ/, /iː/ || /o/, /ɔː/|| /ʊ, w/, /uː/|| /f/ || /ŋ/ || /l, ɾ/ || /m/ || /n, ŋ/ || /p/ || /s/ || /t, k/ || /v/ || (/h/) || (/k/) || (/ɾ/) || /ʔ/
|}
'''Vowels'''<br>
Vowel length is phonemic in Samoan; all five vowels also have a long form denoted by the macron. For example, ''tama'' means child or boy, while ''tamā'' means father.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''Consonants'''
!
!Labial
!Alveolar
!Velar
!Glottal
|- align=center
!Nasal
| m
| n
| ŋ
| &nbsp;
|- align=center
!Plosive
| p
| t
| (k)
| ʔ
|- align=center
!Fricative
| f v
| s
| &nbsp;
| (h)
|- align=center
!Lateral
| &nbsp;
| l
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
|- align=center
!Rhotic
| &nbsp;
| (r)
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
|}
The consonants in parentheses are only present in loanwords and formal Samoan.<br>
In formal Samoan, used for example in news broadcasts or sermons, the consonants /t n ŋ/ are used. In colloquial Samoan, however, /n ŋ/ merge as [ŋ] and /t/ is pronounced [k]. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Samoan language," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoan_language#:~:text=In%20formal%20Samoan%2C%20used%20for%20example%20in%20news%20broadcasts%20or%20sermons, accessed 14 Jun 2021.</ref>
==Language Aids and Dictionaries==
'''Language Aids'''
*[https://samoan.ws/03-verbs Samoan Language Resources]
*[http://www.sfu.ca/~alderete/pubs/aldereteBradshaw2012_samoanGrammarSynopsis.pdf Samoan grammar synopsis]
'''Dictionaries'''
* Milner, G B. ''Samoan dictionary : Samoan-English, English-Samoan.'' Auckland, N.Z.: Pasifika Press, 2001. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/946512343 WorldCat].
* Pratt, George. ''A Samoan dictionary : English and Samoan, and Samoan and English.'' Memphis: General Books, 2012. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/795695929 WorldCat].
'''Online Dictionaries'''
*[http://www2.hawaii.edu/~leighj/SAMOAN/dictionary/ Samoan-English Dictionary]
*[https://en.glosbe.com/en/sm Dictionary English-Samoan (Glosbe)]
==Additional Resources==
'''Online'''
*[https://www.google.com/books/edition/S%C4%81moan_Word_Book/d-_T7qCjakMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=reading+samoan&printsec=frontcover Samoan Word Book]
*[https://omniglot.com/writing/samoan.htm Samoan Language (Omniglot)]
*[https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/phraseindex.htm Samoan Language Phrases (Omniglot)]
*[https://omniglot.com/writing/index.htm Samoan Language Alphabets and Writing Systems (Omniglot)]
'''Books'''
* Hunkin, Galumalemana Afeleti L. ''Gagana Sāmoa : a Samoan language coursebook.'' Honolulu: University of Hawaiiʻ Press, 2009. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/316853500 WorldCat].
* Johnson, Alan P, Lillian E Harmon, and F Ronald Haymore. ''An introduction and guide to the Samoan language for missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.'' Auckland, N.Z.: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1977. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/152534062 WorldCat].
==References==


[[Category:Samoa]] [[Category:Language and Handwriting]]
[[Category:Samoa]]
[[Category:Word List]]

Revision as of 17:45, 8 July 2009

There are 165,000 people in Western Samoa. All are Polynesian and speak Samoan. American Samoans also have a rich language that remains the main language of the people.

English is the second language and all islanders can speak English as well. There are several levels of spoken language. The high talking chiefs have a high oratory of rhetoric that only the indoctrinated can understand. They are the politicians and negotiators. There are regular chiefs that speak the everyday language of the people and get things done. Many have noticed how similar this is to mainland American society.

Palagis (caucasions) who try to learn are a great source of entertainment to native speakers. Learn to laugh along with them and be grateful their English is better than your Samoan!

Samoan is from the Austronesian family of languages. It is closely related to other Polynesian languages, especially Tongan. Here is a very cursory overview of the language and some vocabulary.

Consonants: p,t,m,n,g,f,v,s, and a glottal stop, '

A glottal stop is when you start a vowel with your throat closed, as usually is done in English. If you didn't, the word 'apple' would sound like 'happle.'

More letters k,h and r were added to the Samoan alphabet for foreign or borrowed words. To complicate things for the beginner, in the common vernacular some consonants are transposed when spoken: l for r and k for t. Thus the name Maria can become Malia and telefoni can become kelefoni.

The "g" is pronounced with "ng" sound, so Pago Pago is pronounced Pahngo Pahngo. You can have fun correcting your educated friends with this one.

Vowels: a,e, i, o, u pronounced generally as in romantic languages such as Spanish and Italian.

HERE IS A SMALL VOCABULARY[edit | edit source]

a of, particle used in many ways
a'oga school
ai eat
a'u I, me
ali'i man of rank, chief
alofa love
asu smoke from a fire
Atua God
alu go
aumai get or bring
fa'a In the way of, fa'a Samoa, the Samoan way
fa'afetai thank you
fa'amolemole please
faia'oga teacher
fale house, falea'oga- school house
galuega work
i in, particle denoting position
ie togafine mat
Kerisimasi Christmas. The Samoan word for Christ is Keriso and Kerisian for Christian.
lava commonly used like saying "enough" in English
lavalava clothes, particularly a wrap-around cloth
le the, definite article, plural e
leaga bad
leai no, none, gone
lelei good
lei ivory
matua parent
mai from
motu island
moa chicken
manuia happy, lucky, Manuia le aso
manuia le kerisimasi merry christmas
matai title of extended family chief
o of
oka okaoka, exclamation of surprise
papalagi also palagi, anglos
palolo segmented sea creature that comes out of the coral to breed (and be eagerly eaten)
sa sacred, forbidden
sami sea
sau come
talofa hello
tapu forbidden
taupou title for position of village maiden
timu rain
tofa goodbye
toga fine mat, very valuable
tupe money
tusi write, tusitala, person who writes stories
'ukulele small stringed instrument, you know it!
'ula garland of flowers, 'ulalei, garland of ivory
ulaula smoke
ulu breadfruit
va'a canoe
va'alele airplane, 'flying canoe'
vai water

LEARNING TO COUNT

1. tasi

2. lua

3. tolu

4. fa

5. lima

6 ono

7. fitu

8. valu

9. iva

10. sefulu

11. sefulutasi, 12. sefululua, 13. sefulutolu, 14. sefulufa, etc.

20. luasefulu, 30. tolusefulu, 40. fasefulu, 50. limasefulu, etc.

21. luasefulutasi, 22. luasefululua, 23. luasefulutolu, etc.

100. tasi selau, 200. lua selau, etc.

A FEW WORDS BORROWED FROM ENGLISH

Kerisimasi Christmas
kolisi college
moa lawn mower
musika music
nusipepa newspaper
sikareti cigarette
telefoni telephone
televise television

COLORS

enaena brown
lanumeamata green
lanumoli orange
lanumoana blue
mumu red
pa'epa'e white
piniki pink
samasama yellow
uliuli black
viole, mumu pa'auli

purple

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