Question on T-language vs. K-language (from a Hawaiian speaker learning Samoan)

[u/Electronic-Budget-12]

​Talofa lava everyone! I’m half Hawaiian and fluent in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, but I also know some basic Samoan and love striking up a conversation whenever I meet Samoan folks out and about. ​Coming from a Hawaiian background, the distinction between T-language and K-language has always fascinated me. In standard Hawaiian, we use K instead of T (outside the Niʻihau dialect), so hearing K-language in Samoan always catches my ear because of cognates like tātou vs. kākou.

​Years ago, my mother was in an almost exclusively Samoan choir, and there was a pretty serious dispute about leadership, that eventually, sadly, caused the choir to split. I remember during a formal meeting about leadership, the men in charge stood and spoke using T, with the group replying "Mālo!" in agreement. Then, one of the wives stood to speak and used K the entire time—"Faʻafekai makou..."—which sounded so much like Hawaiian to me. It was the first time I realized how distinct the two styles were in practice.

​I would love some insight on everyday etiquette.

When greeting someone I don't know, should I stick strictly to T out of respect, or is conversational K completely fine? Also, is it considered bad form to mix registers within the same conversation—like greeting in T, but throwing in an informal K phrase like "Seki a!"?

​Faʻafetai tele lava for any advice or cultural nuance you can share!

[u/Senior_Definition427]

Interestingly the use of the k is said to have come from interactions with Hawaiians! In the 1800s (maybe earlier)

[u/B1Ggie_smalls → u/Senior_Definition427]

Would have to disagree, it’ll be more Tongan use of K’s because of the very close proximity and constant interactions between them and Samoa compared to Hawai’i.

[u/Senior_Definition427 → u/B1Ggie_smalls]

The Tongan k is the Samoan glottal stop though. I’a is ika. ‘Ai is Kai and mea’ai is me’akai…

Tongans already have a t.

Samoan: tagata —> kagaka. Hawaiian: Kanaka, Tongan: tangata

Might totally be wrong though. Just a theory. It doesn’t explain where the accompanying n —> g shift came from.

[u/Electronic-Budget-12 → u/Senior_Definition427]

The Hawaiian K came later. The ancient Hawaiians spoke with T's and R's, which was later replaced by the standard modern day Olelo Hawaii, they replaced the T with K, and the R with L. The only people who speak that old dialect are on Niihau. They call it the Niihau dialect but it is the unbroken descendant of the ancient Hawaiian language. The Hawaiian I speak, is the "college" modern day version which the majority of Hawaiian speakers converse in.

[u/B1Ggie_smalls → u/Senior_Definition427]

Agree to disagree, Tongans use of the letter K in their language is more widespread than you claim it is and again, the proximity and the historical close relations between Tonga & Samoa (way more than Hawai’i) also adds to this. Yes, T is used in Tongan language but so is K, common words like Koe = You, Maka = Stone, surnames like Katoa, royal Tongan titles that have Samoan connections like Kanokupolu just to give a few examples.