Difference between revisions of "Template:Nhsc-v1-177"

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how the word is used to make a point,
 
how the word is used to make a point,
 
give a feeling, etc. An example of
 
give a feeling, etc. An example of
this is the word 'ohana, meaning
+
this is the word <u>'ohana</u>, meaning
"family." Since the word 'ohana has
+
"family." Since the word <u>'ohana</u> has
the sound hana (work) in it, the
+
the sound <u>hana</u> (work) in it, the
 
speaker in traditional Hawaiian usage
 
speaker in traditional Hawaiian usage
 
believes that the family should work
 
believes that the family should work
 
together, and uses the connection of
 
together, and uses the connection of
 
both words to emphasize a point that
 
both words to emphasize a point that
'ohana should hana together. Each
+
<u>'ohana</u> should <u>hana</u> together. Each
 
spoken affirmation of familial
 
spoken affirmation of familial
 
relationship then also affirms the
 
relationship then also affirms the
 
willingness to work together. A
 
willingness to work together. A
 
Western thinker listening might seize
 
Western thinker listening might seize
upon the connection between 'ohana and
+
upon the connection between <u>'ohana</u> and
hana made by the speaker and
+
<u>hana</u> made by the speaker and
 
prominently proclaim that one word
 
prominently proclaim that one word
 
derives from the other. Such a
 
derives from the other. Such a
 
Western thinker would then tend to
 
Western thinker would then tend to
 
disapprove of other interpretations of
 
disapprove of other interpretations of
the word 'ohana or even call ignorant
+
the word <u>'ohana</u> or even call ignorant
 
a person who used the similarity in
 
a person who used the similarity in
sound between 'ohana and aloha (love)
+
sound between <u>'ohana</u> and <u>aloha</u> (love)
 
to emphasize love in a family. The
 
to emphasize love in a family. The
 
traditional Hawaiian who connected
 
traditional Hawaiian who connected
'ohana and hana in the first place,
+
<u>'ohana</u> and <u>hana</u> in the first place,
 
however, would likely accept the
 
however, would likely accept the
connection between aloha and 'ohana as
+
connection between <u>aloha</u> and <u>'ohana</u> as
well as hana and 'ohana because he is
+
well as <u>hana</u> and <u>'ohana</u> because he is
 
thinking in terms of the power of the
 
thinking in terms of the power of the
word 'ohana, and such positive
+
word <u>'ohana</u>, and such positive
 
associations provide greater power.
 
associations provide greater power.
 
This is not to say that Westerners
 
This is not to say that Westerners
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has resulted in calling Hawaiians
 
has resulted in calling Hawaiians
 
inconsistent and calling folk
 
inconsistent and calling folk
etymologists and Westerners dumb. 8/
+
etymologists and Westerners dumb. <u>8</u>/
 +
 
 
An excerpt from an interview of a
 
An excerpt from an interview of a
Hawaiian speaker on the radio 9/ goes
+
Hawaiian speaker on the radio <u>9</u>/ goes
 
as follows:
 
as follows:
 +
 
Interviewer: (L. Kimura)
 
Interviewer: (L. Kimura)
No hea 'oe?
+
: No hea 'oe?
(Where are you from?)
+
 
 +
: (Where are you from?)
 +
 
 
Interviewee: (K. Kaleiheana)
 
Interviewee: (K. Kaleiheana)
No Hana lei o Kaua'i au. Ma laila 1
+
 
kanu ' ia au ko'u 'iewe, aka 'o
+
:No Hanalei o Kaua'i au. Ma laila i kanu 'ia au ko'u 'iewe, aka 'o Kalihi ko'u 'aina i hanai 'ia ai.
Kalihi ko'u 'aina i hanai 'ia ai.
+
 
(I belong to Hanalei of Kaua'i. 10/
+
:(I belong to Hanalei of Kaua'i. <u>10</u>/ It is there that my placenta was buried, but Kalihi is the land where I was raised.)
It is there that my placenta was
+
 
buried, but Kalihi is the land
 
where I was raised.)
 
 
The interview shows both the
 
The interview shows both the
 
Hawaiian attention to detail in immediately
 
Hawaiian attention to detail in immediately
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traditional Hawaiian practice
 
traditional Hawaiian practice
 
involving the placenta of a newborn
 
involving the placenta of a newborn
child. This causes a Hawaiianspeaking
+
child. This causes a Hawaiian-speaking
 
listener to recall poetic
 
listener to recall poetic
 
usages relating to the placenta and
 
usages relating to the placenta and
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Kalihi, expresses a neighborhood pride
 
Kalihi, expresses a neighborhood pride
 
common to all people.
 
common to all people.
 +
 
Such an exchange would, of course,
 
Such an exchange would, of course,
 
sound silly in English and the
 
sound silly in English and the
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medium, an example of losing the power
 
medium, an example of losing the power
 
of words if translated.
 
of words if translated.
 +
 
A slightly more poetic example
 
A slightly more poetic example
 
involves the funeral of Princess
 
involves the funeral of Princess
 
Ka'iulani reported in a Hawaiian
 
Ka'iulani reported in a Hawaiian
newspaper under the headline Eo ia
+
newspaper under the headline <u>Eo ia Hawai'i Moku o Keawe</u> ("Hawai'i Isle of
Hawai'i Moku o Keawe ("Hawai'i Isle of
+
Keawe Supersedes All"). <u>11</u>/ The
Keawe Supersedes All"). 11/ The
 
 
{{p|177}}
 
{{p|177}}

Latest revision as of 20:44, 8 April 2006

This Hawaiian use of the examination of words to strengthen a thought is often misinterpreted by Westerners who think that the description of the word itself is the point rather than how the word is used to make a point, give a feeling, etc. An example of this is the word 'ohana, meaning "family." Since the word 'ohana has the sound hana (work) in it, the speaker in traditional Hawaiian usage believes that the family should work together, and uses the connection of both words to emphasize a point that 'ohana should hana together. Each spoken affirmation of familial relationship then also affirms the willingness to work together. A Western thinker listening might seize upon the connection between 'ohana and hana made by the speaker and prominently proclaim that one word derives from the other. Such a Western thinker would then tend to disapprove of other interpretations of the word 'ohana or even call ignorant a person who used the similarity in sound between 'ohana and aloha (love) to emphasize love in a family. The traditional Hawaiian who connected 'ohana and hana in the first place, however, would likely accept the connection between aloha and 'ohana as well as hana and 'ohana because he is thinking in terms of the power of the word 'ohana, and such positive associations provide greater power. This is not to say that Westerners cannot understand the concept of word power, or Hawaiians the concept of historical derivation of words, but confusion over which concept is used has resulted in calling Hawaiians inconsistent and calling folk etymologists and Westerners dumb. 8/

An excerpt from an interview of a Hawaiian speaker on the radio 9/ goes as follows:

Interviewer: (L. Kimura)

No hea 'oe?
(Where are you from?)

Interviewee: (K. Kaleiheana)

No Hanalei o Kaua'i au. Ma laila i kanu 'ia au ko'u 'iewe, aka 'o Kalihi ko'u 'aina i hanai 'ia ai.
(I belong to Hanalei of Kaua'i. 10/ It is there that my placenta was buried, but Kalihi is the land where I was raised.)

The interview shows both the Hawaiian attention to detail in immediately identifying two locations, even though the speaker was taken to the second location soon after birth. The reference to the first location in Hanalei shows the typical Hawaiian pride in an ancestral homeland and emphasizes this with reference to traditional Hawaiian practice involving the placenta of a newborn child. This causes a Hawaiian-speaking listener to recall poetic usages relating to the placenta and navel cord of babies as connecting ascending and descending generations in a family homeland. The reference to the area in which she was raised, Kalihi, expresses a neighborhood pride common to all people.

Such an exchange would, of course, sound silly in English and the associated poetic connections to the placenta would be lost. Hawaiians do not speak this way in English because it cannot be done properly in that medium, an example of losing the power of words if translated.

A slightly more poetic example involves the funeral of Princess Ka'iulani reported in a Hawaiian newspaper under the headline Eo ia Hawai'i Moku o Keawe ("Hawai'i Isle of Keawe Supersedes All"). 11/ The

-p177-