samoa official languages samoan
When you step off the plane into the balmy air of Apia’s Faleolo Airport, you’ll feel instant calm at the wafting notes of the Samoan ukulele welcoming you to this island paradise. Learn to laugh along with them and be grateful their English is better than your Samoan! Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa (Until 4th of July 1997, where its name was Western Samoa), is a small country island that is made out of two main islands, Savai'i and Upolu. Samoan is from the Austronesian family of languages and closely related to other Polynesian languages such as Tongan. Samoan language is the official language practiced all throughout the Samoan Islands that include Eastern and Western Samoa, alike. The census conducted in New Zealand in 2006 recorded 95,428 speakers of the Samoan language. The first classification which is considered traditional classifies the language based on common improvements in grammar and terminology. Both Chiefs of State have been resolutely nonpartisan, and many members of the Fono, especially the Senate, are independents. American Samoa-Wikipedia Language. The Independent State of Samoa is a country in Pacific Ocean.It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. 10 Interesting And Unique Facts About Samoa, 10 Countries Where Women Far Outnumber Men, The Most Famous Serial Killers In America And Their Twisted Crimes. Samoan is the official language of these islands together with English. While Samoa is famous for its idyllic blue waters, swaying palms trees, beautiful beaches and fresh tropical cuisine, it’s equally well-known for its ever-friendly, smiling people; having a few phrases up your sleeve will help you to get to know the real Samoa so much better. As per this belief, the other Polynesian Islands present in the Pacific Ocean were filled up with a mass migration of the people from Samoa during the colonization of Samoa. Samoan is the oldest and most spoken Polynesian language with an estimated 510,000 speakers worldwide. Samoan is the oldest and most spoken language of the Polynesian family with a total of 510,000 speakers worldwide. Register here if you don't have an account. How Many Serial Killers Are Active In The UK Now? All data is derived from UNESCO. So, get stuck in and have some fun on your holiday. About 98% of all Samoans are Christians, mainly Protestants. 12. Here is a very cursory overview of the language and some vocabulary. Upolu is home to Samoa's capital city Apia and nearly three-quarters of Samoa's total population. It has two main islands of Upolu and Savai’i, plus seven small islands. It won’t be long before you find yourself greeting everyone with this cheerful salutation - and adopting the easy-breezy attitude that accompanies it. "Talofa" means "hello" and "tofa" means "goodbye". Types Of Crimes By Number Of Offenses In The US, The 10 Biggest Shopping Malls In The World. Almost all of the population of Samoa follows Christianity. In 2016 Samoa had a population of 195,9791. The Samoan language falls under the Austronesian language family, which can be narrowed down to the Samoic division of the Polynesian subphylum. In 2016 Samoa had a population of 195,97954. English is spoken by many younger Samoans, but fluent English isn't commonly spoken outside Apia and Samoa’s main resorts. The tattoos have a geometric design; men’s tattoos are called Pe’a whereas women’s tattoos are known as malu. Samoa's national language is Samoan. There are so many amazing facts about Samoa you haven’t heard of. Samoan is the official language of the state and, consequently, is one of the official languages of the ANZC. This vocabulary is found in the Austronesian Vocabulary Database. Samoa [ Samoa i Sisifo ] Official languages: Samoan, English National Institutions: Samoa Government; Department of Trade, Commerce and Industry (DTCI) Treasury Department; Samoa Visitors Bureau; Public Service Commission (PSC) Central Bank of Samoa. The next biggest number of speakers is found in New Zealand. Tattoos are also a part of the Samoan culture and these tattoos are different for men and women. If you can provide recordings, please contact me. Samoan is the third most recognized language in New Zealand with 2% of the population, about 86,000 people, able to speak the language. If you intend to explore smaller, outlying villages and islands, it pays to learn a few basic Samoan words and phrases . The second classification derives its divisions on vocabulary only. About three-quarters of the population live on the main island of Upolu. The official name of the country is the Independent State of Samoa. How Many Serial Killers Are On The Loose Today? Consonants: p,t,m,n,g,f,v,s, and a glottal stop, ' The most commonly spoken languages in Samoa Samoan, English is the official language of Samoa Samoan, English, French, Tokelauan are other languages spoken on a regular basis in Samoa What are the most spoken languages on earth? Samoan (Polynesian) (official) 91.1%, Somoan/English 6.7%, English (official) 0.5%, other 0.2%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 est.) Economy - overview: The economy of Western Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, private family remittances from overseas, and agricultural exports. The Samoan original traditions suggest that the Polynesian race originated from the Samoan Islands. Samoan language is the traditional language of Samoa and American Samoa and is an official language—alongside English —in both jurisdictions. Samoan is the native language of most of the population. Samoan is distinctive in its difference in phonology between formal and informal dialogues and also in a traditional form of speech that is used in Samoan oratory. Samoans are a Polynesian group of people who speak the native language Samoan. The religion of Samoa is mainly Christian. The Samoan language (native name: gagana fa'a Samoa) has its roots in the Austronesian language family. Samoan is from the Austronesian family of languages. Jan 7, 2020 - Explore Stacy Mindoro-Essa's board "SAMOAN LANGUAGE", followed by 289 people on Pinterest. Gagana Samoa is the sole indigenous language, and Samoan and English are the official languages. It has notable similarities with other Polynesian languages with which it shares related words and numbers. It means hello and is always accompanied by a large, joyful, trademark Samoan smile. In Austronesian languages: Major languages …the major languages include Fijian, Samoan, and Tongan. Learn some simple Samoan words from the current Miss Samoa & Miss Pacific Islands! English comes next as the secondary language incorporated on higher educational instruction. Like all Austronesianlanguages, it is characterized by a large number of vowels, a small number of consonants, and a simple syllabic structure consisting of either a vowel or consonant + vowel. Samoa has been around since 3,500 years ago. As people expanded over the many islands in the Pacific Ocean, it is likely some mixed and matched, finding their way to Samoa … Samoan, a language closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages, is spoken natively by 91% of the people and is the co-official language of the territory, while 80% speak English, 2.4% speak Tongan, 2% speak Japanese and other Asian languages, and 2% speak other Pacific islander languages. Manuia! There are two official languages: Samoan (of Polynesian) and English. It contradicts the initial classification suggesting that Samoan and Tongic form a subgroup. The terms of reference to the mythical gods are also similar. Samoan speaking countries Samoan is the official language in American Samoa and Samoa and is spoken in 2 more countries as monther tongue by a part of the population. What Are The Differences Between Samoa And American Samoa? The official languages are Samoan and English. 13. See more ideas about samoan, language, samoa. The greatest concentration is in New Zealand , where people of Samoan ethnicity comprise the fifth largest group after New Zealand European, Māori , New Zealander and Chinese. Read More; division of Polynesian. Numbers in Samoan. Samoan has a small inventory of phonemes, i.e., sounds that make a difference in word meaning. Languages. The classification of the Samoan language in relation to other Polynesian languages is a matter of debate among linguists. If any of the numbers are links, you can hear a recording by clicking on them. You can also download apps that can help you with Samoan language acquisition, it can be super helpful to have help in your pocket when you need it. Increasingly, tourism is becoming a significant source of revenue, earning approximately $34 million in 1995. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2021 worldatlas.com. It has two main islands of Upolu and Savai’i, plus seven small islands. Official Name Independent State of Samoa Head of State His Highness Tuimalealiifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II Head of Government Hon. Hence, the country clearly promotes bilingual language system though the native tongue is always of higher regard. [1] Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi (Prime Minister) Population Approximately 195,000 (2016) Capital Apia Urban Area (36,761) Official Languages Samoan and English Economy Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism, Manufacturing, Services The Australian Census of 2006 indicates that there are 38,525 speakers of Samoan in the country and 39,992 people who can trace their ancestry to Samoa. The archipelago has a combined land area of 2,831 km², making it somewhat larger than Luxembourg, or slightly smaller than Rhode Island. Samoa shares maritime borders with American Samoa (United States), New Zealand, Tonga, and Wallis and Futuna (France). This number is slightly smaller than the estimated population of the Island nation of Samoa which was 193,000 as of 2011. American Samoa has two official languages: English and Samoan. This line of thought suggests that Nuclear Polynesian and Tongic are the major divisions of the Polynesian group. Samoa also has a long history of nonpartisanship that is still reflected today. Modern studies have challenged this migration theory purporting that there were two upsurges of migration that populated the said islands. We cover all types of regional, sports, politics, market and other news online. Samoa News covers news from American Samoa, Samoa, and the Pacific region. Official Languages: Samoan, English; Currency: Samoan tālā (WST) History of Samoa Early History. Modern studies have challenged this migration theory purporting that there were two upsurges of migration that populated the said islands. SIGN UP AND WE'LL KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP WITH OUR DEALS AND UPDATES, Register here if you don't have an account. The approximate number of Samoan speakers in the world is 470,000, of which 50% reside in the Samoan Islands. Very little is known about the early centuries of Samoan settlement and history. This study holds that the first wave of relocation was from Southeastern Asia while the second wave came from the indigenous Samoan people who were disrupted by the colonial powers. Samoa gained its independence from New Zealand in 1962 after more than a century of foreign influence and domination, but it remains a member of the Commonwealth. It has a land area of 2,820 square kilometres. The heartbeat of Samoan culture is love and respect, or fa'aaloalo. Over 99% of the population over 15 years can read and write, however, many young people are without work. While English is widely spoken, the national language is Samoan; it’s a soft, beautiful tongue to listen to whether from the mouths of airport staff, shopkeepers or ‘Aunties’ sharing the village gossip. Samoa reported a population of 194,320 in its 2016 census. Samoan is the language spoken in the Samoan Islands which is made up of the Independent State of Samoa and the American Samoa. ... and damaged or destroyed an estimated 1,500 homes on Samoa's Upolu Island. One of the next things you’ll hear is the word ‘Talofa’ and it won’t be the last time, for sure. The languages spoken in Samoa include Samoan and English.. Talk . : Home Samoa, country in the central South Pacific Ocean, among the westernmost of the island countries of Polynesia. Samoa has borders with seven islands and atolls. English is widely understood and spoken in the capital Apia as well as many tourist resorts. How to count in Samoan (Gagana fa‘a Sāmoa), a Polynesian language spoken mainly in Western Samoa and American Samoa. While English is widely used throughout Samoa, not all Samoans are in favor the continued use of English. The official language of Samoa is Samoan and it is spoken across the majority of Samoa's islands. The country operates a parliamentary democracy system of government. This number is three times the population of American Samoa. You will get latest updates of news every 24 hours only at samoanews.com As per this belief, the other Polynesian Islands present in the Pacific Ocean were filled up with a mass migration of the people from Samoa during the colonization of Samoa. It is closely related to other Polynesian languages, especially Tongan. Samoan Background Samoa is an independent country and is part of the Polynesian group. The official languages of the nation are English and Samoan. Samoan Background Samoa is an independent country and is part of the Polynesian group. This study … The best-known Polynesian languages are Samoan, with about 200,000 speakers; Maori, spoken in New Zealand by about 100,000 persons; Tahitian, with an unknown number of native speakers but widely used as a lingua franca in … Samoa has 2 official languages: Samoan and Samoan. Samoa's Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Apia. STA New Zealand Office, Level 1, Samoa House, 283 Karangahape Road, Auckland, ☏ +64 9 379 6138, fax: +64 9 379 8154, samoa@samoa.co.nz. It has a land area of 2,820 square kilometres. There is a formal version of the language and a more everyday version, but the people of this beautiful pacific island are so laid back they won’t care what you attempt. The Samoan original traditions suggest that the Polynesian race originated from the Samoan Islands. In Polynesian languages. How we greet people is a very public demonstration of this respect. Samoa is a small island country in the Oceania. Gagana Samoa is the sole indigenous language, and Samoan and English are the official languages. The official languages of Samoa are Samoan and English. Samoans are a Polynesian group of people who speak the native language Samoan. There are no consonant clusters. Samoans love it when you attempt even a few words, so learn some phrases before departure for an even more authentic experience, including more interaction with local people. The 2010 US census recorded more than 180,000 Samoans within US borders. Samoa is located about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand in the Polynesian region of the South Pacific. So, get stuck in and have some fun on your holiday. With a share of around 91%, it is most widespread in American Samoa. The Samoans have different levels of spoken language, with high chiefs and orators speaking a particular variant that only the learned can understand and others using a more everyday version. It consists of four smaller islands as well, Upolu having Samoa's Capital is Apia. The letters H, K and R are used in loan words. This classification groups Samoan with Tokelauan and the languages of Eastern Polynesia, such as Mahori, Tahitian, Hawaiian, and Rapanui. It has two islands, including Upolu and Savai'i.The capital of Samoa is Apia.It is on the island of Upolu.The head of the country is Va'aletoa Sualauvi II.. The Samoan language has a 14 letter alphabet.