Posted by Kaapuikinaea on April 12, 2009 at 12:30pm
For the past few years I've come across a few people who in their desire to learn the language of our ancestors have been misinformed about the pronunciation of the Hawaiian language. Granted all of those who have misinterpreted the pronunciation of some consonants agree that the written form had some influence on the modern pronunciation. But what many don't understand is that the letters represent sounds of the language, but based on sounds of the English language. There has been only two additions in the orthography that helps give the language a more accurate pronunciation. Those are the 'okina and the kahako.Some have mentioned how the missionaries have changed the language and will erroneously use old maps or other pre-missionary documentation. Although the actual documents have never been quoted, I am providing my own examples from the journal of John Ledyard, Corporal of Marines on the Resolution who became a Serveant in 1780.Kiverua = Ka'awaloaKirekakooa = KealakekuaAttowai = KauaiOrono = LonoKireeaboo = Kalaniopu'uKirakakooa = KealakekuaAnd from the logs of David Samwell, Surgeon's Mate on the Resolution and Discovery.Kariopoo = Kalaniopu'uKanee-cappo-rei = KanekapoleiArapai = Alapa'iKerag-egooa = KealakekuaKaireekeea = KailikeaKa-rima-no-co-a-ha = Kalimanouka'ahaAnd by Capt. Vancouver.Karakakooa = KealakekuaToeaigh = KawaihaeCrymamahoo = KalaimamahuAhido = HiloTerreoboo = Kalaniopu'uTamaahmaah = KamehamehaTamaahmootoo = Kame'eiamokuArrowhah = alohaHarapy = Alapa'iKahowmotoo = Ke'eaumokuKerneecuberrey = KanekapoleiThe fact that "G", "B" and "D" have appeared in these documents, I believe it is this that gives these people the idea that the missionaries changed the language and that the language had a B, D, G, V, T and R. These approximate sounds exist in the language. It's just in the writing, the consonants have been reduced, but that doesn't mean we should always pronounce it based on English. If Niihauans can read the bible in Hawaiian yet retain their dialect, or if locals can read English retaining their local dialect (ie not pronouncing the "R"), then why can't we do the same when we see a K or L?Even today with the current orthography used, there are a few instances where dual sounds exist for one letter. There is the Tuahine rain, or Tutu. In both instances the T is used to make sure that sound is used. But we use only the W in writing yet we use both the W and V sounds for both. In actuality, the V is much softer than it is in English. The K & T sounds also exist in the Samoan language.In the case of the T and K, those sounds in any Polynesian language aren't as aspirated as it is in English. I was told that native English speakers actually have a hard time distinguishing an aspirated from an unaspirated sound. Not sure how true that is, but this may explain a few people misunderstanding my pronunciation in a few instances where they thought I was using a G sound rather than a K. In the examples above the G was used in place of the K. The P and B fall into the same situation, although in reality it's just the unvoiced consonant (K, T & P) versus the voiced consonants (G, B).Then there is the L and R combination where the R is actually a tongue flap (unlike in English) and is pronounced as you would hear it either in Japanese, Spanish or Italian. With the L, articulation is similar to the tongue flap, but if I were to give a Layman's description, I'd say it's like slow motion compared to the tongue flap. The D pronunciation is similar to the tongue flap where the tongue touches nearly the same spot during the tongue flap. The example of this was in Hilo (above) where it was spelled Ahido ('o Hilo). My Tongan uncle would call his daughter, my cousin Malia "maria", with the tongue flap but sometimes sounded like a D rather an L or R. Come to think of it, with English, if the "D" is in between vowels, it is pronounced as a tongue flap, like in ladder, middle, and broader.This is why people have a misconception on the "original" pronunciation, if it's safe to say that. All it takes is a little bit of understanding the sounds that exists in the language rather than the writing.
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