My friend Laura has been studying Hawaiian for some time now. So I thought I'd try to reply to her recent email in Hawaiian. Eeek! I only did six sentences and I felt like my brain was exploding. I had to concentrate sooooo hard! And I realized that I have such a long way to go. But it was cool to be able to reply to her at all!
It was a great class and I look forward to the next session.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
3-6-09
I feel a little lost because I missed two classes. But at least memorizing the vocabulary for this week is going a little better, don't know why.
There are some words that are harder for me than others, though. Like palaunu, the word for brown. I had no trouble with mākue. At first I couldn't figure out why there were two words for brown. But then I remembered that there are over four pages of words to describe the winds of Kauaʹi in the book, Epic tale of Hiʹiakaikapoliopele!
There are some words that are harder for me than others, though. Like palaunu, the word for brown. I had no trouble with mākue. At first I couldn't figure out why there were two words for brown. But then I remembered that there are over four pages of words to describe the winds of Kauaʹi in the book, Epic tale of Hiʹiakaikapoliopele!
Monday, March 2, 2009
3-2-09
Though I felt bad about missing class on Sunday, I was happy that I could attend my friend's birthday party. There was much aloha as we celebrated with him and serenaded him with Hawaiian mele on our 'ukuleles. And there was an abundance of ono food, ā ʹoia, as with any Hawaiian gathering!
Reading in ka puke Nā Kai ʹEwalu about Ka Pepeke ʹAike He and Ka Pepeke ʹAike ʹO really helped to cement in my mind the differences in the two forms. I liked the way it broke the sentences down into Poʹo – Piko - ′Awe. I looked up each of those words in the dictionary and was surprised at the definitions. I thought that poʹo would mean something like the object of the sentence, but it really means "head" or "end." "Piko" I already knew means "navel." And "ʹawe" means "strand, thread; thin, soft." These are rather poetic descriptions of sentence structure, I thought. But the examples were very helpful.
Reading in ka puke Nā Kai ʹEwalu about Ka Pepeke ʹAike He and Ka Pepeke ʹAike ʹO really helped to cement in my mind the differences in the two forms. I liked the way it broke the sentences down into Poʹo – Piko - ′Awe. I looked up each of those words in the dictionary and was surprised at the definitions. I thought that poʹo would mean something like the object of the sentence, but it really means "head" or "end." "Piko" I already knew means "navel." And "ʹawe" means "strand, thread; thin, soft." These are rather poetic descriptions of sentence structure, I thought. But the examples were very helpful.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
2-28-09
Well, I listened to the first podcast for ka papa yesterday. It was very interesting. I never considered how gender-specific Latin-based languages are. In ka ‘ōlelo Hawai’i, as the narrator pointed out, there are no separate words for he or she, only one word. That was an eye-opener for me, something I had never considered.
Of course there are gender-specific words like wahine and kāne.
But what does that fact of no gender-specific pronouns say about the culture of Hawai'i as opposed to traditional western culture?
I need to think more about this.
The podcast also pointed out how one could get into trouble by using words in an improper way (that is, by not knowing the "hidden" meaning of words). I'll definitely have to be careful with what I say and write in Hawaiian so as not to offend or anger anyone!
Of course there are gender-specific words like wahine and kāne.
But what does that fact of no gender-specific pronouns say about the culture of Hawai'i as opposed to traditional western culture?
I need to think more about this.
The podcast also pointed out how one could get into trouble by using words in an improper way (that is, by not knowing the "hidden" meaning of words). I'll definitely have to be careful with what I say and write in Hawaiian so as not to offend or anger anyone!
Friday, February 27, 2009
2-27-09
OK, I changed the title of my blog today. Kumu Liko provided me with more suitable words for "My Electronic Journal." I'm still a little confused about the difference between "ko'u" and "ku'u" but that's all right. I'm sure I'll learn more as I go along.
Ka ʹōlelo Hawaiʹi isn't coming easy for me. I'm ok with Latin-based languages. Heck, I'm one of the few people who even studied Latin! But this new language has a different mind-set, with multiple meanings for words and a structure that I don't yet understand. But it will come, I hope, for this haumana.
Ka ʹōlelo Hawaiʹi isn't coming easy for me. I'm ok with Latin-based languages. Heck, I'm one of the few people who even studied Latin! But this new language has a different mind-set, with multiple meanings for words and a structure that I don't yet understand. But it will come, I hope, for this haumana.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
2-26-09
Often when I'm relaxing or flying on a plane I'll listen to music on my iPod. My preferred tunes, especially if I'm trying to sleep, have usually been techno or Hawaiian because techno has no words and the songs from Hawai'i have lyrics I don't understand.
However, since I've started taking this class, I've discovered that I am beginning to recognize more and more words in the language of Hawai'i. They pop out and I can't help but translate them in my head and try to discern their meaning in the song.
Hmmmm. Looks like techno will be my only sleepy-time music from now on!
However, since I've started taking this class, I've discovered that I am beginning to recognize more and more words in the language of Hawai'i. They pop out and I can't help but translate them in my head and try to discern their meaning in the song.
Hmmmm. Looks like techno will be my only sleepy-time music from now on!
2-20-09
Wow, I really had a lot of trouble with this week's ha'awina. I don't know where to place the "this" and "that" in the sentences. I keep getting 'ia and "kona" mixed up. And the vocabulary for this week for some reason just doesn't want to stick in my head, though I've spent a lot of time trying to memorized the words. I wish I was eighteen again!
Having said that, I am beginning to recognize words and phrases in the hulas and 'ukulele songs that I've learned. That's so cool!
It does remind me, though, that the language of Hawai'i isn't easy because each word has so, so many meanings. I can see how I might be very scared to try to compose a poem or mele bacause I could get into some real trouble with the multiple meanings!
Dawn will be over soon, so we'll study together tonight. John and I have been struggling along all week.
Having said that, I am beginning to recognize words and phrases in the hulas and 'ukulele songs that I've learned. That's so cool!
It does remind me, though, that the language of Hawai'i isn't easy because each word has so, so many meanings. I can see how I might be very scared to try to compose a poem or mele bacause I could get into some real trouble with the multiple meanings!
Dawn will be over soon, so we'll study together tonight. John and I have been struggling along all week.
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