Lesson 1 - The Hawaiian Language

Question 1

Origin of the Language

Answer 1

Branch of Polynesian language
Dialect like Samoan, Tahitian, Marquesan, Tuamotuan and Maori
Maori, Tahitian and Tuamotuan closer than Samoan
Original home likely in India
Tahiti or Raiatea likely origins for direct migration to Hawaii

Question 2

Peculiarities of the Language

Answer 2

Words and syllables must end is vowels
Vowels must be between every consonants
only exception: Kristo (introduced by American missionaries)
Language rich in words for rains, winds etc.
No true diphthongs but European ae, ai, ao, au, ei, ia and ua may be so classed

Question 3

Elision

Answer 3

na alii –> na ‘lii (the chiefs) (thick part of comma on top)

Question 4

guttural break

Answer 4

elision of ‘k’

indicated by hamzah (ʻ, thick part of ‘comma’ at bottom)

Question 5

Alphabet

Answer 5

12 Letters
A (father), E (vein), I (peep), O (own), U (book)
H (hale), K (Kate), L (laid), M (moon), N (noon), P (peak), W (always, after first syllable often as in valuable)

Question 6

alii

Answer 6

chief

Question 7

kahuna

Answer 7

a professional man, an expert

Question 8

a’o

Answer 8

to teach

Question 9

ao

Answer 9

the light, the world

Question 10

ia

Answer 10

he, she, it

Question 11

i’a

Answer 11

a fish

Question 12

hali

Answer 12

to carry

Question 13

auamo

Answer 13

to carry on the shoulder

Question 14

ka’ika’i

Answer 14

to carry in the hands

Question 15

hii

Answer 15

to carry in the arms

Question 16

koi

Answer 16

to carry on a stick between two men

Question 17

haawe

Answer 17

to carry on the back

Question 18

Speak thou to him there.

Answer 18

E i ae oe iaia.

Question 19

across

Answer 19

Mai kekahi aoao a i kekahi aoao ae