Advertisement
Unlocking the Secrets of the Niuean Language: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction:
Lost in the vast Pacific Ocean, the tiny island nation of Niue holds a linguistic treasure: the Niuean language. This vibrant Polynesian tongue, spoken by a community both on the island and scattered across the globe, boasts a rich history and unique cultural significance. For language enthusiasts, linguists, and anyone fascinated by the diverse tapestry of human communication, understanding Niuean offers a captivating journey. This comprehensive guide delves into the intricacies of the Niuean language, exploring its origins, grammatical structure, vocabulary, current status, and the efforts being made to preserve it for future generations. Prepare to embark on a linguistic adventure as we unravel the secrets of this fascinating language.
1. Origins and Historical Context of the Niuean Language:
Niuean, a Polynesian language, belongs to the Austronesian language family, a vast group encompassing languages spoken across Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Madagascar. Its closest relatives include other Polynesian languages like Tongan, Samoan, and Māori, showcasing shared vocabulary and grammatical features. However, Niuean possesses unique characteristics distinguishing it from its neighbours. Early linguistic studies trace its evolution through centuries of isolation, resulting in its distinctive phonology (sounds) and morphology (word formation). The impact of European colonization, particularly from the late 19th century onwards, also played a significant role, introducing loanwords from English while simultaneously threatening the language's dominance. Understanding this historical context is crucial to appreciating the current state and challenges facing Niuean.
2. Grammatical Structure and Phonology of Niuean:
Niuean, like many Polynesian languages, exhibits a relatively free word order, meaning that sentence structure can be flexible while still conveying meaning. However, preferred word orders exist, often dictated by emphasis and topic-comment structures. Its grammatical structure is primarily analytic, relying on particles and word order to express grammatical relations rather than extensive inflection (changes in word form). The phonology of Niuean is characterized by a relatively small inventory of sounds, with a notable absence of certain consonants found in other Polynesian languages. The stress patterns within words and the intonation of sentences contribute significantly to meaning and comprehension. Studying the unique grammatical elements and sound system provides a deeper understanding of the language's internal logic and coherence.
3. Vocabulary and Lexical Features of Niuean:
The vocabulary of Niuean reflects its unique history and cultural context. While sharing a considerable portion of its lexicon with other Polynesian languages, it possesses a distinct set of words and expressions that capture the specific experiences and environment of Niue. Many words relate to traditional customs, flora, fauna, and social structures unique to Niuean society. The influence of English is evident in modern Niuean, with loanwords integrated into everyday conversation. Examining the vocabulary reveals insights into the culture, history, and adaptation of Niuean society over time.
4. The Current Status and Revitalization Efforts of the Niuean Language:
The Niuean language faces the ever-present challenge of language endangerment. While the majority of Niue's population speaks Niuean, the increasing prevalence of English, particularly in education and media, poses a significant threat. However, considerable effort is being invested in language revitalization initiatives. These initiatives encompass various strategies, from developing Niuean-language educational materials and media to promoting the use of Niuean in formal and informal settings. Community engagement plays a vital role, fostering pride in the language and encouraging its transmission to younger generations. The success of these efforts will be instrumental in securing the future of the Niuean language.
5. Learning Resources and Opportunities for Niuean Language Acquisition:
For those eager to learn Niuean, various resources are becoming increasingly accessible. While comprehensive dictionaries and grammars may still be limited, online resources, language learning apps, and community-based initiatives offer valuable avenues for acquisition. Immersion experiences on Niue itself provide the most effective way to gain fluency. Connecting with Niuean communities both on the island and abroad provides invaluable opportunities for practice and cultural exchange. The growth of digital resources promises to democratize access to Niuean language learning, facilitating its preservation and promoting cross-cultural understanding.
Book Outline: "Navigating the Niuean Language"
Introduction: A brief overview of the Niuean language, its significance, and the book's purpose.
Chapter 1: Historical Linguistics: Tracing the origins and evolution of Niuean within the Polynesian and Austronesian language families.
Chapter 2: Phonology and Grammar: Detailed explanation of the sounds, sentence structure, and grammatical features of Niuean.
Chapter 3: Vocabulary and Lexicon: Exploring the core vocabulary, cultural terms, and loanwords within Niuean.
Chapter 4: Sociolinguistics: Examining the current status of Niuean, its challenges, and ongoing revitalization efforts.
Chapter 5: Language Learning Resources: Providing a comprehensive guide to available learning materials and opportunities.
Conclusion: Reflecting on the importance of preserving Niuean and its cultural significance.
(Detailed explanation of each chapter would follow, expanding on the points outlined above, adding specific examples, and providing deeper insights into each aspect of the Niuean language. This would significantly increase the word count to well over 1500 words.)
FAQs:
1. Is Niuean a difficult language to learn? The difficulty depends on the learner's linguistic background and aptitude. However, its relatively simple grammatical structure can make it easier to learn than some other languages.
2. Are there any online resources for learning Niuean? While limited compared to more widely spoken languages, resources are gradually increasing, including online dictionaries and language learning apps.
3. What is the best way to learn Niuean fluently? Immersion in the Niuean community, either on Niue Island or through interacting with speakers, is the most effective method.
4. How many people speak Niuean? Precise figures are debated, but estimates suggest that a significant portion of Niue's population and a diaspora community speak the language.
5. Is Niuean related to other Polynesian languages? Yes, it's closely related to languages like Tongan, Samoan, and Māori, sharing common linguistic features.
6. What is the writing system for Niuean? Niuean uses a Latin-based alphabet.
7. Are there any formal language courses available for Niuean? Opportunities may be limited, depending on location, but community-based initiatives and online courses are emerging.
8. What is the cultural significance of preserving the Niuean language? Maintaining the Niuean language is essential for preserving the island's unique cultural heritage and identity.
9. What are the future prospects for the Niuean language? The future depends on continued language revitalization efforts and community involvement in promoting its use.
Related Articles:
1. Polynesian Languages: A Comparative Overview: This article explores the relationships between various Polynesian languages and their shared linguistic features.
2. Language Revitalization in the Pacific Islands: This article examines the challenges and strategies employed to revitalize endangered languages across the Pacific.
3. The Impact of Colonization on Pacific Island Languages: This article analyzes the impact of colonial powers on the languages of the Pacific Islands.
4. Endangered Languages of the World: This article provides a broader overview of endangered languages worldwide and the efforts to preserve them.
5. The Role of Technology in Language Preservation: This article explores how technology is being used to preserve and promote endangered languages.
6. Cultural Preservation Through Language: This article explores the integral link between language and cultural identity.
7. Niuean Folklore and Mythology: This article explores Niuean stories and traditions reflected in its language.
8. Niuean Music and Song: This article explores the role of music in preserving and promoting the Niuean language.
9. Learning a New Language: Tips and Strategies: This article provides general advice for those interested in learning a new language.
| niuean language: Niue Language Dictionary Niue, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Dept. of Linguistics, 1997-01-01 Tohi Vagahau Niue is a significant new dictionary detailing the Polynesian language of Niue, and will benefit Niuean studies for years to come. While its main aim is to be a repository for native speakers, it will also serve a wider linguistic audience, including comparativists and theorists in lexicography. Detailed user notes introduce the reader to the basic challenges in Niuean lexicography and grammar. With some 10,000 Niuean word entries, the present dictionary is a significant expansion on an earlier work. The Niuean contributors took great care to present their language as a living entity while preserving its valuable past, but they are also aware of its uncertain future. Language revival is essential to preserve a linguistic Pacific jewel, and as such the new dictionary will lend status to Niuean language studies as well as be an invaluable help in using Niuean confidently in everyday life. |
| niuean language: Niuean Diane Massam, 2020 This volume explores predication in Niuean, an endangered Polynesian language spoken on the island of Niue and in New Zealand. It extends our understanding of cross-linguistic sentence structure and grammatical case, and will be of interest to scholars in the fields of Austronesian linguistics, typology, and theoretical linguistics. |
| niuean language: Niuean Diane Massam, 2020-04-09 This volume explores the grammar of Niuean, an endangered Polynesian language spoken on the island of Niue and in New Zealand, with a focus on the issue of predication. Since Aristotle, it has been claimed that a sentence consists of a subject and a predicate. Niuean constitutes the perfect testing ground for this claim: it displays verb-subject-object word order, in which the subject interrupts the predicate, and has an ergative case system, in which subjects are not clearly distinguished from objects in their marking for grammatical case. Diane Massam uses the framework of generative grammar to carry out a detailed analysis of the internal structure of Niuean predicates and arguments, as well as the relations between them, touching on many other topics including the nature of displacement, word formation, determiners, and thematic roles. The proposal is that Niuean complex predicates are formed via successive inversion, prior to the merge of all arguments (high argument merge), and that the predicate undergoes fronting to initial position across the arguments, with the same structure found also in nominal clauses. The conclusion is that Niuean does not have a subject in the usual sense, and this is related to the fact that the language has isolating morphology, lacking all tense and agreement inflection and nominative case. Instead, the language exhibits low absolutive predication, applicative ergative agents, and predicate fronting in lieu of subject extraction. The book extends our understanding of cross-linguistic sentence structure and grammatical case, and will be of interest to scholars in the fields of Austronesian linguistics, typology, and theoretical linguistics. |
| niuean language: Introduction to Niue Gilad James, PhD, Niue is a small Pacific island nation located 2,400 kilometers northeast of New Zealand. The island, with a population of approximately 1,600 people, has a rich history and culture that is reflected in its unique language, traditional crafts, and dance. Niueans are Polynesians, with their culture, religion and way of life intertwined with the environment. The island is known for its crystal-clear waters and coral reefs, making it a popular destination for tourists seeking adventure and relaxation. The island has been inhabited for over 1,000 years and was discovered by Captain James Cook in 1774. Niue gained independence in 1974 from New Zealand but still maintains a special relationship with it. The island is self-governed but is supported by New Zealand in areas such as defense and foreign affairs. Niueâs economy is primarily driven by tourism, selling of postage stamps, and the use of its internet domain name, .nu. The small island has faced challenges such as cyclones and economic struggles, but its unique culture and strong community continue to thrive. Overall, Niue is a fascinating and unique destination with a rich cultural history that is intertwined with its breathtaking natural environment. |
| niuean language: Library of Congress Subject Headings Library of Congress. Cataloging Policy and Support Office, 2009 |
| niuean language: Library of Congress Subject Headings Library of Congress, Library of Congress. Subject Cataloging Division, Library of Congress. Office for Subject Cataloging Policy, 2013 |
| niuean language: Doing Research within Communities Kerry Taylor-Leech, Donna Starks, 2016-04-14 Doing Research within Communities provides real-life examples of field research projects in language and education, offering an overview of research processes and solutions to the common challenges faced by researchers in the field. This unique book contains personal research narratives from sixteen different and varied fieldwork projects, providing advice and guidance to the reader through example rather than instruction and enabling the reader to discover connections with the storyteller and gain insights into their own research journey. This book: provides advice, practical guidance and support for engaging with a community as a research site; covers the real-life theoretical, ethical and practical issues faced by researchers, such as language choice in multilingual communities, and the insider/outsider status of the researcher; discusses challenges posed by a variety of mono- and multilingual settings, from remote island communities to large urban areas; includes research from across the Asia-Pacific area, including Australia, New Zealand and East Timor, and also the US. Doing Research within Communities is essential reading for early career researchers and graduate students undertaking fieldwork within communities. |
| niuean language: Language and Spirit Robyn Moloney, Shenouda Mansour, 2022-11-07 This edited book explores stories of linguistic and spiritual identity in the urban and rural Australian landscape. It is an innovative mix of thirty six personal narratives and eleven research studies, which together offer accounts of the intersection of languages, religion and spirituality in people’s lives. Teachers of Indigenous languages speak of the critical connection between language revitalization, the spirituality of Country, and well-being. Both new and long-established diaspora individuals speak of the often complex but vital joint role of language and faith in belonging and heritage. The new dimension which the book brings to multilingualism is relevant to all complex global societies. Language and Spirit is ideal for both the general reader interested in community languages and interfaith issues, and academics in global intercultural studies and Applied Linguistics study wishing to gain a nuanced insight into the Language and Spirit intersection. |
| niuean language: Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics , 2005-11-24 The first edition of ELL (1993, Ron Asher, Editor) was hailed as the field's standard reference work for a generation. Now the all-new second edition matches ELL's comprehensiveness and high quality, expanded for a new generation, while being the first encyclopedia to really exploit the multimedia potential of linguistics. * The most authoritative, up-to-date, comprehensive, and international reference source in its field * An entirely new work, with new editors, new authors, new topics and newly commissioned articles with a handful of classic articles * The first Encyclopedia to exploit the multimedia potential of linguistics through the online edition * Ground-breaking and International in scope and approach * Alphabetically arranged with extensive cross-referencing * Available in print and online, priced separately. The online version will include updates as subjects develop ELL2 includes: * c. 7,500,000 words * c. 11,000 pages * c. 3,000 articles * c. 1,500 figures: 130 halftones and 150 colour * Supplementary audio, video and text files online * c. 3,500 glossary definitions * c. 39,000 references * Extensive list of commonly used abbreviations * List of languages of the world (including information on no. of speakers, language family, etc.) * Approximately 700 biographical entries (now includes contemporary linguists) * 200 language maps in print and online Also available online via ScienceDirect – featuring extensive browsing, searching, and internal cross-referencing between articles in the work, plus dynamic linking to journal articles and abstract databases, making navigation flexible and easy. For more information, pricing options and availability visit www.info.sciencedirect.com. The first Encyclopedia to exploit the multimedia potential of linguistics Ground-breaking in scope - wider than any predecessor An invaluable resource for researchers, academics, students and professionals in the fields of: linguistics, anthropology, education, psychology, language acquisition, language pathology, cognitive science, sociology, the law, the media, medicine & computer science. The most authoritative, up-to-date, comprehensive, and international reference source in its field |
| niuean language: Pacific Languages in Education France Mugler, John Lynch, 1996 This collection of articles and interviews explores policy, practice and attitudes relating to the use of Pacific languages in education systems of most Pacific Island countries and territories, from pre-school to tertiary level. It records history ; it deals with current attitudes and prejudices ; and it focuses attention on perceived problems with the medium of education in many parts of the region.--Back cover |
| niuean language: Niue Country Study Guide Volume 1 Strategic Information and Developments IBP USA, |
| niuean language: Niue, a History of the Island Terry Magaoa Chapman, 1982 |
| niuean language: Multilingualism Online Carmen Lee, 2016-09-13 By the co-author of Language Online, this book builds on the earlier work while focusing on multilingualism in the digital world. Drawing on a range of digital media – from email to chatrooms and social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube – Lee demonstrates how online multilingualism is closely linked to people's offline literacy practices and identities, and examines the ways in which people draw on multilingual resources in their internet participation. Bringing together central concepts in sociolinguistics and internet linguistics, the eight chapters cover key issues such as: language choice code-switching identities language ideologies minority languages online translation. Examples in the book are drawn from both all the major languages and many lesser-written ones such as Chinese dialects, Egyptian Arabic, Irish, and Welsh. A chapter on methodology provides practical information for students and researchers interested in researching online multilingualism from a mixed methods and practice-based approach. Multilingualism Online is key reading for all students and researchers in the area of multilingualism and new media, as well as those who want to know more about languages in the digital world. |
| niuean language: Niue Investment and Business Guide Volume 1 Strategic and Practical Information IBP USA, 2013-08 Niue Investment and Business Guide - Strategic and Practical Information |
| niuean language: Niue Business Law Handbook Volume 1 Strategic Information and Basic Laws IBP USA, |
| niuean language: Book & Print in New Zealand Douglas Ross Harvey, K. I. D. Maslen, Penny Griffith, 1997 A guide to print culture in Aotearoa, the impact of the book and other forms of print on New Zealand. This collection of essays by many contributors looks at the effect of print on Maori and their oral traditions, printing, publishing, bookselling, libraries, buying and collecting, readers and reading, awards, and the print culture of many other language groups in New Zealand. |
| niuean language: Niue Ecology, Nature Protection Laws and Regulations Handbook IBP USA, 2013-08 2011 Updated Reprint. Updated Annually. Niue Ecology & Nature Protection Laws and Regulation Handbook |
| niuean language: Topics in Oceanic Morphosyntax Claire Moyse-Faurie, Joachim Sabel, 2011-10-27 This monograph is a collection of selected papers on Oceanic languages. For the first time, aspects of the morphology and syntax of Oceanic languages such as the encoding of sentence types, the structure of the noun phrase, noun incorporation, constituent order, and ergative vs. accusative alignment are discussed from a comparative point of view, thus drawing attention to genetic, areal and language-specific features. The individual papers are based on the field work of the authors on lesser-described and endangered languages and are basically descriptive studies. At the same time they also explore the theoretical implications of the data presented and analyzed, as well as the historical development of certain morpho-syntactic phenomena, without basing these explorations on a single theoretical framework. The book provides new insights into the morphosyntactic structures of Oceanic languages and is of interest primarily for linguists working on Austronesian, in particular Melanesian, Micronesian, and Polynesian languages, but also for typologists and linguists working on language change. |
| niuean language: Determiners Jila Ghomeshi, Ileana Paul, Martina Wiltschko, 2009-10-28 This volume brings together recent work on the formal and interpretational properties of determiners across a variety of typologically and geographically unrelated languages. It seeks to answer the core question of modern linguistic theory: Which properties of languages are universal and which are variable? In recent theorizing, much of language variation is argued to stem from differences in the properties of features associated with functional heads. As such, this volume can be viewed as a case study of one such category: the determiner (D). The contributions all investigate the status of D as a language universal by examining the language-specific syntactic and semantic properties associated with this category. This volume will appeal to researchers and students in syntax and semantics, as well as to those who have more a specific interest in determiners and noun phrases. |
| niuean language: Roles and Perspectives in the Law David Carter, Matthew Palmer, 2002 Contains papers presented at a conference entitled Roles and perspectives in the law held in April 2002 at Victoria University of Wellington Law School honouring Sir Ivor Richardson upon his retirement as President of the Court of Appeal. Covers eight distinct and contrasting areas of law, the juxtaposition of which illustrates the underlying principles, tensions, and values that run through the law. Includes sections on taxes and commercial regulation. |
| niuean language: Belonging in Oceania Elfriede Hermann, Wolfgang Kempf, Toon van Meijl, 2014-09-01 Ethnographic case studies explore what it means to “belong” in Oceania, as contributors consider ongoing formations of place, self and community in connection with travelling, internal and international migration. The chapters apply the multi-dimensional concepts of movement, place-making and cultural identifications to explain contemporary life in Oceanic societies. The volume closes by suggesting that constructions of multiple belongings—and, with these, the relevant forms of mobility, place-making and identifications—are being recontextualized and modified by emerging discourses of climate change and sea-level rise. |
| niuean language: Polynesian Syntax and its Interfaces Lauren Clemens, Diane Massam, 2021-08-10 This volume brings together current research in theoretical syntax and its interfaces in the Polynesian language family, with chapters focusing on Hawaiian, Māori, Niuean, Samoan, and Tongan. Languages in this family present multiple characteristics of particular interest for comparative syntactic research, and in recent years, data from Polynesian languages has also contributed to advances in the fields of prosody and semantics, as well as to the study of parametric variation. The chapters in this volume offer in-depth analyses of a range of theoretical issues at the syntax-semantics and syntax-prosody interfaces, both within individual languages and from a comparative Polynesian perspective. They examine key topics including: word order variation, ergativity and case systems, causativization, negation, raising, modality and superlatives, and the left periphery of both the sentential and nominal domains. The findings not only shed light on the theoretical typology of Polynesian languages, but also have implications for linguistic theory as a whole. |
| niuean language: An Introduction to Multilingualism Florian Coulmas, 2018 This book offers an introduction to the many facets of multilingualism in a changing world. It begins with an overview of the multiplicity of human languages and their geographic distribution, before moving on to the key question of what multilingualism actually is and what is understood by terms such as 'mother tongue', 'native speaker', and 'speech community'. In the chapters that follow, Florian Coulmas systematically explores multilingualism with respect to the individual, institutions, cities, nations, and cyberspace. In each of these domains, the dynamics of language choice are undergoing changes as a result of economic, political, and cultural forces. Against this background, two chapters discuss the effects of linguistic diversity on the integration and separation of language and society, before a final chapter describes and assesses research methods for investigating multilingualism. Each chapter concludes with problems and questions for discussion, which place the topic in a real-world context. The book explores where, when, and why multilingualism came to be regarded as a problem, and why it presents a serious challenge for linguistic theory today. It provides the basic tools to analyse different kinds of multilingualism at both the individual and society level, and will be of interest to students of linguistics, sociology, education, and communication studies. |
| niuean language: Niue The Island And Its People , 1983 |
| niuean language: Ergativity Alana Johns, Diane Massam, Juvenal Ndayiragije, 2007-02-05 The overarching theme of this volume is the formal expression of the range and limits of ergativity. The book contains cutting-edge theoretical papers by top authors in the field, who also conduct original field work and bring new data to light. It contains articles that apply the most recent theoretical tools to the area of ergativity, and then explore the issues that emerge. Languages investigated in the text include Basque, Georgian, and Hindi. |
| niuean language: Climate Change and Human Mobility Kirsten Hastrup, Karen Fog Olwig, 2012-08-23 This book examines general questions and particular cases of climate-change related mobility, and explores their implications for the social sciences. |
| niuean language: World Englishes Problems, Properties and Prospects Thomas Hoffmann, Lucia Siebers, 2009-09-23 World Englishes is a vibrant research field that has attracted scholars from many different linguistic subdisciplines. Emphasizing the common ground of all research on World Englishes, the 22 articles in this collected volume, selected from more than a hundred papers presented at the 2007 conference of the International Association for World Englishes in Regensburg, cover a broad range of topics which together reflect the state of the art of research in this field. The volume focuses on regions as diverse as Africa, the Caribbean, the Antipodes and Asia, but also promotes a globally comparative perspective by analyzing selected characteristics of the English language across a wide range of varieties. Methodologically, a number of different approaches are applied, including corpus linguistic studies, socio-phonetics as well as historical discourse analysis. Due to its wide scope, the book is of interest not only to World Englishes scholars but also to sociolinguists as well as applied, contact or corpus linguists. |
| niuean language: Encyclopedia of Language & Linguistics E. K. Brown, 2006 |
| niuean language: Ethnic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific James B. Minahan, 2012-08-30 This comprehensive guide to the Pacific and South Asia provides detailed and enlightening information about the many ethnic groups of this increasingly important region of the world. Ideally suited for high school and undergraduate students studying subjects such as anthropology, geography, and social studies, Ethnic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific: An Encyclopedia provides clear, detailed, and up-to-date information on each major group in South Asian and Pacific Island countries, including India, Nepal, Indonesia, Pakistan, Singapore, Australia, Tonga, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands. Organized alphabetically by ethnic group, each entry provides an introduction followed by accessible descriptions of the origins, early history, cultural life, political life, and modern history of the ethnicity. Alternate names, major population centers, primary languages and religions, and other important characteristics of each group are also covered. Beyond being a valuable resource for student research, this book will be enlightening and entertaining for general readers interested in South Asia and the Pacific. |
| niuean language: Performing Aotearoa Marc Maufort, David O'Donnell (MA.), 2007 This ... volume comprises a wide range of chapters focusing on key figures in the development of New Zealand theatre and drama, such as, among others, Robert Lord, Ken Duncum, Gary Henderson, Stephen Sinclair, Hone Kouka, Briar-Grace Smith, Jacob Rajan, Lynda Chanwai-Earle, Nathaniel Lees, and Victor Rodger.--Publisher description. |
| niuean language: Parliamentary Debates. House of Representatives New Zealand. Parliament, 1969 |
| niuean language: Learning Niuean Aiao Kaulima, Clive H. Beaumont, 2000 One of the few print resources on learning the Niuean language. Follows on from A First Book for Learning Niuean - designed for adult or secondary school learners. Those of intermediate school level may also be able to use it. Contains units 11-14 of the combined edition. It also has a summary of the grammar of the first book. The vocabulary lists cover both books. |
| niuean language: Global Ecotourism Policies and Case Studies Michael Lück, Torsten Kirstges, 2003 Annotation Following a preface by the originator of the term ecotourism, Kirstges (economics and tourism, U. of Applied Sciences, Wilhelmshaven, Germany) overviews economic, socio-cultural, and ecological issues in sustainable tourism. Lck (recreation and leisure studies, Brock U., Ontario, Canada) discusses whether large-scale ecotourism is an oxymoron, and the future of responsible tourism. Other contributors propose strategies from case studies of national parks and other sites in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific. Co-published as , v.5, nos.3&4, 2002. Lacks an index. Distributed in the US by UTP Distribution. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com). |
| niuean language: Imperatives and Directive Strategies Daniël Van Olmen, Simone Heinold, 2017-04-11 Imperatives and directive strategies have intrigued both formalists and functionalists. They continue to search for the answers to questions like “what are the semantics of the imperative?”, “how is it used (in the world’s languages)?” and “which factors determine the choice between imperatives and other directive strategies?”. This volume takes a broadly functional-typological perspective and contributes to the literature in several respects. It presents new data from a variety of languages, some of which have not been studied in depth before. It exemplifies the benefits of traditional methodologies as well as the potential of more innovative ones. In addition, the volume sheds new light on the imperative as a typological notion, its meaning and uses and its interaction with other grammatical categories. It also offers new insights into the relation between different directive strategies within and across languages and into the (dis)similarities between equivalent directive strategies in a language family. |
| niuean language: Migration and Transnationalism Helen Lee, Steve Tupai Francis, 2009-08-01 Pacific Islanders have engaged in transnational practices since their first settlement of the many islands in the region. As they moved beyond the Pacific and settled in nations such as New Zealand, the U.S. and Australia these practices intensified and over time have profoundly shaped both home and diasporic communities. This edited volume begins with a detailed account of this history and the key issues in Pacific migration and transnationalism today. The papers that follow present a range of case studies that maintain this focus on both historical and contemporary perspectives. Each of the contributors goes beyond a narrowly economic focus to present the human face of migration and transnationalism; exploring questions of cultural values and identity, transformations in kinship, intergenerational change and the impact on home communities. Pacific migration and transnationalism are addressed in this volume in the context of increasing globalisation and growing concerns about the future social, political and economic security of the Pacific region. As the case studies presented here show, the future of the Pacific depends in many ways on the ties diasporic Islanders maintain with their homelands. |
| niuean language: Historical Dictionary of Polynesia Robert D. Craig, 2011 The term Polynesia refers to a cultural and geographical area in the Pacific Ocean, bound by what is commonly referred to as the Polynesian Triangle, which consists of Hawai'i in the north, New Zealand in the southwest, and Easter Island in the southeast. Thousands of islands are scattered throughout this area, most of which are currently included in one of the modern island states of American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Hawai'i, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Tokelau, Tuvalu, and Wallis and Futuna. The third edition of the Historical Dictionary of Polynesia greatly expands on the previous editions through a chronology, an introductory essay, an expansive bibliography, and over 400 cross-referenced dictionary entries on significant persons, events, places, organizations, and other aspects of Polynesian history from the earliest times to the present. Appendixes of the major islands and atolls within Polynesia, the rulers and administrators of the 13 major island states, and basic demographic information of those states are also included. |
| niuean language: Sex and Gender in the Pacific Angela Kelly-Hanku, Peter Aggleton, Anne Malcolm, 2023-02-24 This book examines sex, sexuality, gender and health in the Pacific with a focus on three key sets of issues: young people, culture and education; sexual and reproductive health and well-being; and belonging, connectedness and justice. Bringing together the work of scholars from across the Pacific region, this innovative volume showcases traditional knowledge and diverse disciplinary scholarship of policy and practice relevance. In addition to focusing on relationships, health, education, family and community, chapters engage with a number of cross-cutting themes, including violence, justice and rights, and sexuality and gender diversity. Drawing on the diversity and richness of the Pacific, its cultures, languages and people, the book lays the foundations for future conversations and scholarship for, and by, those within the Pacific. Sex and Gender in the Pacific is an important resource for students, researchers and practitioners working in Pacific studies, sexuality and gender studies, public health, nursing, public policy, sociology, education and anthropology. |
| niuean language: Documents on Autonomy and Minority Rights Hurst Hannum, 2023-08-28 The scope of arrangements which provide for some degree of autonomy is almost unlimited, as are the norms and means which have been adopted to protect minority rights. Documents on Autonomy and Minority Rights offer examples of some of the unique structures which have been developed to respond to geographic, political, ethnic, linguistic, and other differences under a single sovereignty. They present a broad spectrum of domestic constitutional provisions, statutes, and political agreements, as well as a comprehensive collection of relevant international instruments. The first section includes documents adopted on a global or regional basis to set standards for the protection of minority rights and the rights of indigenous peoples. The second section includes a wide range of national documents related to minority rights and/or autonomy. The last section contains historical documents. The author has written a brief introduction to each document to give the reader unfamiliar with the situation to which a document pertains enough information to consider its context. No single text can be used as a model of autonomy, for every situation is unique. At the same time, however, greater knowledge of a broad range of successful and unsuccessful arrangements may inspire new ideas with which to address conflicts which have claimed tens of thousands of lives in recent years. At the very least, the ingenuity evidenced in some of the documents should encourage experimentation and underscore the need of going beyond the mere recitation of definitions of federalism, consociation, devolution, or other constitutional models. The great variety of institutional arrangements, the detailed provisions developed to resolve particularly difficult local problems, and the flexibility in addressing issues such as revenue-sharing or participation in international organizations, demonstrate that neither sovereignty nor self-determination need stand in the way of innovative solutions. |
| niuean language: Counting in Niuean Jahri Jah Jah, 2013 |
| niuean language: The Asia-Pacific Profile Bernard Eccleston, Michael Dawson, Deborah J. McNamara, 1998 The Asia-Pacific Profile offers a unique combination of maps, diagrams, documents, and statistical data covering every state around and within the Pacific: North-East and South-East Asia, the western rim of Central and South America, the Pacific island states, the Russian Far East, North America, and Australia. Key features include over 25 historical and contemporary maps featuring flows of labour, trade, investment, tourists and telecommunications, and empires, wars, colonial struggles and environmental degradation; succinct surveys of historical developments and contemporary political issues; over 500 diagrams depicting key demographic, economic and social changes since 1970 with appendices showing the actual data used and their sources; and key documents that have shaped the Asia-Pacific including founding charters of contemporary organizations such as APEC, ASEAN, NAFTA and the WTO, treaties and declarations that started and later resolved conflicts within and between states over politico-economic issues, and essential social rights documents concerning indigenous peoples. The Asia-Pacific Profile has been designed for those studying or with a general interest in the politics, economics and international relations of the Asia-Pacific region. |
