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American Samoa Government
Posted: May 28, 2025
FA’ASALALAUGA A LE KOMISI O LE GAGANA SAMOA
Pictured L-R: Elisapeta T. Alaimaleata (Director of the American Samoa Government Samoan Language Commission), Retired Rev. Dr. Vaiao Eteuati (Chairman Samoan Language Commission), and HTC Rep. Maulolo Leaula Tavita (Samoa Parliament Representative)
Upu tomua - O le ulua’i fonotaga a le Fa’atonu ia Alaimaleata, Elisapeta i le Komisi o le Gagana Samoa i Samoa Tuto’atasi.
Sa auai atu le afioga a le Fa’atonu ia Alaimaleata, Elisapeta i le fonotaga masani i masina ta’itasi i Samoa tua’oi. O lea fonotaga sa auai ai le Komesina o le Komisi o le Gagana Samoa, le Susuga a le Faife’au Malolo Manumalo ia, Rev. Dr. Vaiao ‘Eteuati, ae tainane le nofo a sui o lea fonotaga mamalu a le Komisi o le Gagana a Samoa ma ‘Amerika Samoa. Sa talanoaina ai nisi o mata’upu tau i le ati’inaa’e o le lelei o la tatou Gagana, aemaise lona fa’atumauina i totonu o Matagaluega o A’oga. E aoga lenei galuega mo Faia’oga i le a’oa’oina o le gagana sa’o ma le gagana ua fa’avaeina, ina ia mausali ma to’a ai alo ma fanau o le atunu’u i le fa’aaogaina o ‘upu o le gagana Samoa.
Na faia fo’i se galuega toe iloilo a le Komisi mo nisi o ‘upu ua fesiligia e le lautele aemaise ali’i ma tama’ita’i Faia’oga, o ‘upu e fia mautinoa lona anoa ma le sa’o mo le fa’aaogaina i taimi o tusitusiga a fanau a’oga aemaise su’ega, fa’apei o le sipelaina o le ‘upu o le, “Olo’o po’o le O lo’o?” Ua sa’ili le tofa a le Komisi po’o fea le tonu ma le moni i le tusiga sa’o o le ‘upu. Sa finauina lava e fa’apea, “O le ‘Olo’o o le fa’asino taimi. Ae a tu’u na o le “O” e leai sona uiga.” Peita’i, e pei o fa’aaliga o manatu Komisi e lua a Samoa ma ‘Amerika Samoa, e avea le Tusi Pa’ia ma se tasi o tatou alafua ma le fa’atonu’upu i le tatou Gagana Samoa. Peita’i ane, ua malilie le Komisi e lua e fa’aaoga uma mau e lua o le, “O lo’o - mau a le Tusi Pa’ia, ma le ‘Olo’o - mau a le ‘au ligiuisi).
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SAMOAN LANGUAGE COMMISSION - PRESS RELEASE
The initial meeting of Director Alaimaleata, Elisapeta at the Samoan Language Commission in the Independent Nation of Samoa.
The Director of the Samoan Language Commission of American Samoa, Madam Alaimaleata, Elisapeta attended the regular monthly meeting in neighboring Samoa. The meeting was attended by the Commissioner of the Samoan Language Commission of Samoa, the Retired Rev. Dr. Vaiao ‘Eteuati, and members of the Samoa and American Samoan Government Language Commissions. Several issues were considered in the development of the quality of Samoan Language, including its maintenance in the schools and what not. It is useful for Teachers to learn the correct language and grammar as well as the established language, so that the children and generations of the country can be confident in using the Samoan language.
The Commission also reviewed some of the words that have been questioned and added by fellow teachers, words that might have meaning or need correction for use in the lives of school children, such as the words, "O lo'o" The Commission sought advice on which is the correct and true spelling of the word. It was argued that, the “'Olo'o” (Samoan linguist spelling) is the time indicator. But if you leave the "O" as spelled in the bible, “O lo’o” alone, it has no meaning." However, as the two Commissions of Samoa and American Samoa have directed, the Bible is one of our standard and guide in our Samoan Language. However, the two Samoan Language Commissions have come to an agreement to utilize both spelling versions from the Holy Bible and the Linguists research studies.