The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
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26 The Linguist Vol/57 No/4 2018 ciol.org.uk/tl FEATURES Starting with Captain James Cook in 1778, many visitors to Hawaii tried to write down the words they heard. However, there was no general agreement on the correct spelling, causing a certain amount of confusion. when the first Christian missionaries arrived, they sought to develop a standard alphabet to assist their project to translate the Bible into Hawaiian. Henry 'Ōpūkaha'ia, an orphan schooled in New England by missionaries, developed a system for writing the language, translated the Book of genesis, and began a grammar book. After he died in 1818, missionaries adopted his writing system to bring literacy to the islands. They also translated several hymns into Hawaiian, which are still popular today. Hawaiian vowel sounds are very similar to Latin, so there was a perfect match between the vowel sounds and the letters available in the roman alphabet. However, the consonants varied from place to place, and it took some time for them to be standardised into the current group of just seven consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, w). Unusual features include the kahakõ – a line above the vowel to indicate a long sound (as in pūpū ) – and the 'okina or glottal stop, found in Hawai'i. Every syllable ends in a vowel and there are no consonant clusters or sibilants, making the spoken language extremely pleasing to the ear and very much suited to lyrics such as local chants and songs. one unique feature is the structure of the possessive, reflecting the islanders' attitude to possessions. In Hawaiian, there are two complete sets of possessive words which differ only in the accented vowel ('o' or 'a'). The difference relates to the relationship between the possessor and the thing possessed. For example, Ko'u lei ('my lei') is a traditional garland that someone has given to me – an honour and something very important culturally. I don't control the fact that it is 'mine'. However, Ka'u lei is a lei that I've made myself, which is of little cultural importance until I bestow it on someone else. This is common in Polynesian languages and cultures. Another feature shared with other Pacific languages regards specification of directions. Hawaiian does not have the concept of the four compass points; instead it uses ma kai ('towards the sea') and a uka ('inland', 'towards the mountains'). Indeed, many in Hawaii use these words even when speaking English. I ka 'ōlelo ke ola, i ka 'ōlelo ka make ('in words is the power of life, in words is the power of death') is a well-known and oft-quoted Hawaiian proverb that speaks to the power of language in the rich culture of these beautiful islands and, indeed, could serve as a motto for the newly qualified interpreters aspiring to serve in the state's court system. The language continues to gain more prominence, with the recent news that Hawaiian Airlines flights have begun using it for inflight announcements. The process of changes has been set in motion, and it will be interesting to see what the future brings for Hawaiian and its speakers, so ahui hou, mālama pono, mahalo nui loa ('until we meet again, take care and thank you very much'). Notes 1 Hawai'i is the local spelling; this article uses the English spelling, 'Hawaii', except for institutions and quotations from Hawaiian texts 2 Press release (26/1/18), Hawai'i State Judiciary; bit.ly/2t9zErg 3 'Tearful Testimony at the Capitol over Hawaiian Language Translation Bill' (31/1/18). In Hawaii News Now 4 research and Economic Analysis Division, State of Hawaii (2016) 'Detailed Languages Spoken at Home in the State of Hawaii: Statistical report', 8; bit.ly/2tTNNCM ISLAND OF MAUI The house of the first Hawaiian-language newspaper, now the Hale Pa'i Printing Museum (main image); (above, top) Haleakalā, where activists are protesting the construction of a solar telescope; and (above) a ukulele performance by Hawaiian elders IMAgES © HAwAII ToUrISMAUTHorITy (HTA)/D ANA EDMUNDS; HTA/T or JoHNSoN