Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 5, 1 May 1997 — He puke huaʻōlelo Hawaiʻi hou [ARTICLE]

He puke huaʻōlelo Hawaiʻi hou

by Kelli Meskin

Thousands of new Hawaiian words used by the Hawaiian language immersion schools have been published in a book, Māmaka Kaiao. Hale Kuamo'o, the center for Hawaiian language curriculum development, and 'Aha Pūnana Leo eollaboratively organized this first publication of new Hawaiian words. The new Hawaiian wnrds were rreated bv a T.ex-

ieon Committee established in 1987. "There is a great need for catching up with new words that have eome into our vocabulary," said Larry Kimura, the committee chair of the lexicon committee. "With new knowledge comes new vocabulary." The committee is made up of six Hawaiian language professors who meet onee or twice a month. Two from University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Liana Wong and Keao

NeSmith, one from Kaua'i Community College, Hōkūlani Cleeland, and three from University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Kalena Silva, William H. Wilson and Kimura.

"During the time that Hawaiian wasn't prevalent in Hawai'i, Hawaiian fell behind," NeSmith said. The flow of information and the advancement of technology has moved _

ahead so fast, Kimura said. The eommittee is working to adapt those things and ideas to the Hawaiian language. A variety of words ranging from computer terms, football positions and math and science terms ean be found in the book. NeSmith says he uses the book in his university Hawaiian language class and his students are eager to use the new words in their conversation and assignments. These new words are mainly used by immersion school keiki, their parents and people who work in Hawaiian language settings. The immersion

school curriculum incorporates the latest terms so teachers are better able to teach all courses in Hawaiian, such as auto shop, science, math and computer processing. The parents of immersion students often ask for the word list created by the Lexicon Committee, said Lilinoe Andrews, of Pūnana Leo's curriculum and pubhshing office. The interest in new Hawaiian words has been phenomenal, she said.

Experts in science, math, computers and manaleo (native speakers) are consulted by the committee for information on various words and their deeper meaning. The new Hawaiian words stem from a eombination of a few words, extend-

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a way to promote a wider use j r of the new words. "We need to bring the language up to date,"

mg tne meaning or current words, "hawaiianizing" foreign words and creating words that describe an action or feature. Andrews says the book is

Andrews said. J An addendum to the book will be published yearly containing newer words created by the committee.

Kimura said that new words will be easier to create and incorporate when the number of Hawaiian language speakers increase.

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Ka Wai Ola o OHA (May) '97

Mamaka Kaiao

Unana Le0 w ^āmaiea ? Kaiao

Ē : '1 He Puke Hua'ōlelo u OJci°HaWiHou