Discover the official language of Tahiti: Tahitian!
Have you chosen to travel to the Pacific Islands and more specifically to Tahiti? If so, you have certainly wondered about knowing the local language. It turns out that this region of the Pacific Ocean does indeed have an official language: tahitian. Tahitian is part of the Oceanian group divided into about twenty languages that are spoken mainly in the Pacific Islands.
We are therefore going to tell you the main particularities of this language in order to help you discover it and understand it better. Indeed, whether it is your trip to Tahiti, wanting to learn the language, or simply to satisfy your intellectual curiosity, you will find here all the elements you will need to learn about this historical language.
History and origin of this language
TEA tahitian is one of the native languages of the island of Tahiti, the main island of the Society archipelago – made up of 130 islands – including the Polynesia is part. Tahitian is one of the most widespread languages in the archipelago. It is also one of the most used languages in the whole region.
It is no coincidence that this language has survived to the present day. It is indeed the only language to have been able to impose itself as a common language and to predominate. With origins dating back to the Stone Age, the tahitian is one of the oldest languages still spoken in the world.
Operation and use of Tahitian
Tahitian is a very present language on the island, despite the presence of French as an official language since 1842. Tahitian and French are therefore the two most used languages on Tahiti. Indeed, for some inhabitants, Tahitian is obvious while for others, it is only cultural. Moreover, it is not uncommon today to hear inhabitants speak a mixture between Tahitian and French during their conversations, this hybrid language is nicknamed “Œil-de-Tahiti”.
In 1990, Tahitian was recognized as the official language of Polynesian society and an administrative law was introduced to promote its use in all sectors. From, several schools, both public and private, teach the language on the islands. Teaching is provided from an early age and courses are also held at the university to familiarize students with this balanced language.
The Tahitian in the test of time
Most words in Tahitian are of Polynesian origin and in some islands such as the Tuamotus and the northern Marquesas there are similarities in word usage. It is for this reason that Tahitian is still used today as the universal language in the islands.
Despite the passing of the ages and the influences of the French language, Tahitian has always remained relatively preserved. This is explained by the fact that Tahitian is a very practical language that adapts to new technologies and facilitates communication between the inhabitants. Different modern terms have therefore appeared in recent years while keeping their Polynesian origin.
Still present today, the Tahitian continues to be used and valued in the community and seeks to maintain itself over time.
Tools and resources for learning Tahitian
If curiosity has overcome you and you want to learn the language, know that there are modern methods and tools to learn Tahitian. Many parents and grandparents opt for the traditional method of teaching the language to their child or grandchild. But Tahitian is also taught to adults in local schools and on the Internet.
TEA online course are widespread and very practical for learning Tahitian. Individuals and interested people can have access to many tutorials, lessons and videos through which they can learn at their own pace. Moreover, there are mobile apps such as Memrise Tahitian or Tahitian Vocab ti Tahiti, which make learning Tahitian easier while having fun. Tools such as the Tahitian-French dictionary from the University of Tahiti or the Tahiti Word application are also available.
Conclusion
Tahitian is one of the oldest and most popular languages of the Pacific. It is widely reused in the islands and its historical origin and its particularities make this language a highly valued cultural heritage of the region. Thanks to a growing number of online resources and solutions, learning Tahitian is now much more accessible and simple.