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The Fun Of Learning The Hawaiian Language |
by: John Davison |
The Hawaiian language is an
Austronesian (or Polynesian) language that is the ancestral tongue
of the Hawaiian Islands, which lie in the Pacific Ocean. The
Hawaiian language is the official language of the State of Hawaii.
It is an endangered language, meaning that it is no longer spoken
officially on any of the populated Hawaiian Islands. The native
language was supplanted by English many years ago. There is one
Hawaiian Island, Ni'ihau, where the Hawaiian language is still
predominantly spoken. This island is privately owned, and tourism
there is rejected in favor of a traditional way of life for its
inhabitants. Though English is spoken by Hawaiians in order to
conduct business and for political and educational purposes, the
Hawaiian language remains in the souls and memories of all native
Hawaiians, and connects them to their heritage.
Thousands of people travel to the island paradise of Hawaii every
year. It's beautiful beaches, terrific surfing, and breathtaking
vistas make Hawaii one of the most common vacation spots on the
Earth. The residents of the islands share a real sense of history
and community, and consider themselves to be 'ohana, or family, with
one another. Hawaiians love to share their interesting history,
vibrant culture, and the beautiful poetry of the Hawaiian language
with visitors. When visitors arrive on the Islands, they are often
greeted by native Hawaiian ladies who present new guests with a kiss
on each cheek, a friendly "aloha!" and a beautiful and fragrant lei,
or garland of indigenous flowers from the Islands.
Today, there are many words from the Hawaiian language that are
still used conversationally and informally by the Islands'
inhabitants. We all know the word "aloha", which has a myriad of
meanings including hello, goodbye, and love. There is also hula,
which is a very common Hawaiian dance that you often see at lu'aus,
or traditional Hawaiian feasts, where ukulele music is played along
to meles (traditional songs and chants), and tradition Hawaiian
foods such as poi are served.
Today, the Hawaiian language is enjoying a resurgence in popularity.
Native Hawaiians looking to reconnect with their ancestral pasts are
learning the traditional native tongue. And children are also being
educated in the Hawaiian language, as a means of teaching them the
history and legacy of their people. The Hawaiian language is being
taught in public schools on the Islands as a second language
alongside English.
For tourists, there are Hawaiian language books available that can
provide lessons in the basic Hawaiian language. Also, computer
software can provide a fun and interactive experience for a person
who is interested in learning the native tongue of the Hawaiian
Islands before embarking on a vacation there. There are also
websites available that offer free, accelerated lessons in Hawaiian.
Learning the basics of a language like Hawaiian will provide
tourists with an opportunity to gain more understanding of a
fascinating culture that thrives still today. Though there will not
be any real language barriers for tourists when they visit Hawaii,
learning some of the ancestral language will also serve as a history
lesson, which will allow tourists to appreciate the culture that
they are being exposed to so much more.
Traveling to the tropical paradise that is the Hawaiian Islands is a
chance of a lifetime. Experiencing the sights, the sounds, the
people, and the exotic surroundings is likely to broaden anyone's
scope of the world.
Though the Hawaiian language is not widely spoken any longer, its
concepts remain in the hearts and souls of the people who inhabit
the idyllic and ancient oasis, and they relish the opportunity to
welcome their visitors in the true spirit of 'ohana.
About The Author
John Davison is a director of numerous Internet companies and is a
published author. Many articles have been produced on a variety of
subjects with excellent content and depth. All his articles may be
reproduced provided that an active link is included to http://www.foreign-languages-school.com. |
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