PART
I
Please
choose one of the three stories discussed in class and retell it in your
own words in Samoan. Use a total of fifteen (15) sentences, written in Samoan
with English translations. You must use the following sentence patterns in the re-construction
of your story:
- 3 ina ‘ua (when, because – past tense)
- 1 ‘ā/ ‘āfai (if/when – future tense)
- 1 a‘o (while – present tense)
- 4 ona … lea (and then)
·
the rest can be non-verbal and verbal
(VSOLT) patterns
Include
your English translations of the following stories in this section:
- ‘O le tala i le Fale‘ula
- ‘O le tala iā Sina ma ona Tuagane
PART
II
Afterwards,
write a 3-4 page paper (12 point, typed, double-spaced, 1-inch margins)
providing a summary of the story in English. Analyze the story as it relates to
the other stories discussed in class. As you write, answer the following questions
in your analysis:
- What are the central themes of the story?
- What kind of tala is this? What does it aim to get across? Is it an origin story? Is there a moral to the story?
- What is the feagaiga and why is it significant in Samoan culture?
- How is the concept of the feagaiga applicable to other aspects of Samoan culture and modern society?
- List some of the roles, duties, responsibilities, and obligations that brothers have to their sisters and vice versa. How were these manifested in the story (as well as the other three stories)?
- How are these themes, especially of the ones pertaining to the feagaiga, relevant (or can be relevant) to society today, especially among Samoans?
Mark Wooldridge
ReplyDeleteSamoan 202
Final Project
5/14/14
Part 1:
Samoan version of Story
1. O le tala lea I le tala ia Sina ma lona tuagane e sefulu.
a. In this story there is a sister named Sina and she has ten brothers named Tui.
2. E matua o Sina ma Tui e sefulu i Tafitofau ma Ogafau.
a. The parents of Sina and the ten Tui’s are Tafitofau and Ogafau.
3. Ina ‘ua o Sina o le teine laititi a’o ia a le tuafafine a le Tui e sefulu.
a. Sina and her ten brothers went out one day
4. Ina ‘ua savali Sina, ona lea va’ai i se tern ae fia manao i ai.
a. As Sina was walking she saw a tern and asked her brothers to catch it.
5. Ona lea fai lea fai le tala I lona tuagane e alu latou e aumai se tern e fai lona tane.
a. She asked her brothers to catch it so that she could make it her husband.
6. Ona lea ta’o se tala ia Sina e aua, afai ua ala le itu.
a. Her brothers told Sina not to shout or else she would wake up the monster.
7. Ona lea ala le itu aua ave Sina ma ia.
a. The monster took Sina
8. Ua sue e ona tuagane e vai’ai ia Sina.
a.
9. Ina ua maua Sina ae ua sola isi tuagane na’o le tasi ua nofo e tausi ia Sina.
a. Sina was taken and her brothers came to save her but only the youngest brother stayed to save her
10. Ona lea ta’u le itu ia Sina e fai lona ulu.
a. The monster asked Sina to brush his hair.
11. Aua ua sau le tuagane e tasi e nago le ulu a le itu I le pou o le fale.
a. When the monster fell asleep the youngest brother and Sina tied the monsters hair to the poles of the house
12. Ona lea Sola Sina ma lona tuagane a tasi.
a. Sina was saved by the youngest brotheer
13. Ona ala lea o le itu ae ua pa’u le fale I luga o ia ona lea ua oti le itu.
a. When the monster woke up his hair tore down his house and he was killed.
14. Ona lea savali e Sina ma tasi Tui i le fale.
a. Sina and her youngest brother Tui walked back to their house.
15. Tui sao o le Sina
a. Tui saved Sina!
English Translation
ReplyDelete‘O Sina ma ona Tuagane
In this story there is a sister named Sina and she had ten brothers named Tui. And their parents names were Tafitofau and Ogafau. Sina and her ten brothers went out one day. When Sina was walking she saw a tern and told her brothers to catch it so that she could make it her husband. And then Sina called out to her brothers and they told her to not shout for she might awaken the monster. She woke the monster and the monster took Sina. Sina’s brothers came to rescue Sina but only one brother the youngest brother was brave enough to save Sina. Sina was in the monsters house and the monster asked her to brush his hair so she did and he fell asleep. And then the youngest Tui snuck in and helped Sina tie the monsters hair to the poles that are around the house. Sina and the youngest Tui escaped and the monster woke up. When the monster woke up he brought the house down with his hair tied to the poles and the house killed the monster. Then Sina and the youngest Tui walked back to their home.
‘O le tala i le Fale’ula
In this story Sina and Tui Manu’a run away to get married from ‘upolo to his home called the fale’ula which is in Manu’a. Sina asks her brother to meet but he comes at the wrong time. And Sina has to help huim overcome many dangers and challenges when they leave Manu’a with the fale’ula. This story is about listening to your sister and taking care of each other no matter what kind of trouble you get into. This is also the origin of the ‘opolu village name called the fale’ula.
Part 2
In this story there is a main central theme that is meant to correlate to us in real life and we are supposed to learn from the mistakes that the characters make and also learn from what the characters did correctly. Make the decision for ourselves to see what we should use and put into our lives to make us better people. The main theme that is in this story that you need to listen to your brothers especially if they are older they might be wiser than you are if you are younger. Not always the case but that was part of what they are trying to get at in the main theme in this story. Also that even if you are the only one left that is willing to be brave stand up and be brave to anything that comes in your path. Do not coward out and be scared. Brothers should put their sisters before everything else.
This story or tala is about how family should be there for each other no matter what and how you take care of your brothers/sisters and family no matter what even if the family member has made a mistake. You need to teach your siblings things or else they will not know what to do in certain situations. If you just assume they know better than you will probably find out the wrong way. And since Sina did not know not to shout out and wake up the monster she was captured by the monster and could have been killed by the monster. Thanks to the one brave youngest brother Sina was saved.
This story aims to get across to stay loyal to your family members and to stand up and be brave against anything that stands in either your way or in the way of any of your family members. Stand up and do not coward out when you are faced with troubles. Especially if it is your younger sister because the bond between the brothers and their sister is especially important in the Samoan culture. You need to take care of your feagaiga as much as you possibly can.
ReplyDeleteThis is an origin story because it talks about how Tui and Sina come about and tells the children a Fagono of how to take care of your siblings especially your sister. A Fagono is a story that you tell children. It teaches children to be brave and stand up to the troubles that you are faced with and not to coward out. The moral of the story is to take care of your Feagaiga and always put your sisters and siblings before everything else in the world. You take care of your family no matter how much trouble they get into.
Feagaiga is the relationship that you have between your brother and your sister in Samoan Culture. This is very important in Samoan culture because in all of the stories that we read and learned about this year in Samoan 202 it talked about the Feagaiga or the brother-sister relationship. Every story talked about how the brothers and sisters got along with each other whether it was the sisters of Tui that were going to go get Tui a husband on the island of
Fiji all named Sina. They did this because they loved their brother so much that they wanted to get him married. Or malalatea helping Sina and Tui manu’a run away and get married in the home the “fale’ula”. Sina also helps Tui in this story overcome danger. All the stories talk about the feagaiga and how they interact with each other and take care of each other. Obviously this is a big deal with the Samoan culture. I feel that Samoan’s are very family oriented and really emphasize taking care of each other. As long as you take care of each other you will succeed in life and be able to go out there on your own and start a family and have kids of your own that you can teach the same lessons of taking care of your feagaiga and treating your family members with respect.
The feagaiga is applicable to the other parts of the Samoan culture in many ways because the Samoan culture is very family oriented. Everyone takes care of their family first and then they also take care of close friends. Everyone is taking care of everyone and creating peace between everyone will make for a great society that runs very smoothly. It also relates to how you treat your guests that come into your home. You are expected to feed and provide service to any guest that comes into the house. Treating them like they are family to you. Samoan culture is a very respect driven culture and it keeps thriving today. Every single Samoan person that I have met is the most respectful and generous person. They are always willing to help no matter what it is that I need help with. Samoan people are the nicest people that I have ever had a chance to meet and spend time with. I would really like to go to Samoa one day and spend time there to get to know the culture a lot better than just what is taught in the classroom.
Some of the roles that a brother has to his sister is that they always have to take care of them no matter what. A brother has to provide for his sister and make sure she is safe and make sure her well-being is good. A brother has to protect her pa’ia or her sacredness and her mamalu her honor glory and dignity. A brother has to protect her virginity and chase away anyone who is trying to take that away from her until the time is right for her. Also includes avenging for her if anyone has violated any of these things towards his sister. A brother has to do all of the heavy work for the sister which does include cooking. In most older society’s the woman usually cooked and provided food so this is a different part of culture where Samoan’s differ from other parts of the world. Mend did the cooking in the Samoan culture and the sisters ate with their parents while the brothers had to wait until they were done before they could eat. Which is a lot different compared to our society today where everyone eats at the same time. And generally the men eat more food than the woman which is not the case in the Samoan culture. Before the brothers could eat they had to bring a cloth and a bowl so their parents and sisters could was after their meal and then they were allowed to eat.
ReplyDeleteSome responsibilities that a sister had to her brother were that a sister had to cheer on and wish their brothers well on whatever they were doing, this is called Tapua’i. A sister had to try her best to preserve her pa’ia and mamulu until she married. A sister had decision making power in many family situations, including the granting of titles in the family. The sister was entitled the certain mats and other displays of wealth. She was also allowed to bless and or curese her brothers and her brothers wives and children.
The themes in these stories are very relevant to society today and especially among the Samoan people because it is very important to be family oriented and always put your family first before everything. Your family is the closest thing you have to you and the people that you spend the most time with so you are supposed to be there for them no matter what. The Feagaiga is very important in today’s society because a brother, especially an older brother, is usually very protective of his younger sister. You always want to protect your sister from everything and keep her innocent for as long as possible. You also want to take care of her as much as possible. Older sisters will usually treat their younger brother in the same way. We always want to protect our siblings from what we think is danger and always be there for them no matter what. Love your brother and your sister no matter what they do or who they turn out to be. They will always be there for you as well.
PART 1
ReplyDeleteSa sau le Tui Manu’a e ave ma gaia le afafine a Fe’epo e igoa ia Sina. Ona la ō laia e nonofo i Manu’a. Na fai Sina ia lana tuagane o Malalatea e latu e la feiloa’i. Ona fa’afetai lea Sina ia lana tuagane, faimai fa’afetai. Na fai le Manu’a ia Malalatea e alu e a’ami ni i’a mo le fono a le ava. Faimai afai e mafai e Malalatea na faia, ona fa’ataga ai lea na alu Sina. Na fai ai lea o Sina ia Malalatea e togi muamua se ma’a e fa’aaga ai i’a olo’o momoe. Na ave loa e Sina le ma’a ia Malalatea. Ina ua fai loa e Malalatea le mea na faimai ai Sina e fai, na ofo laia le Tui Manu’a aua e fa’apea e gaia e le mafai e le tama na fa’agota. Ina ua uma mea, na fai ai Sina i le Tui Manu’a o le a la o ma lana tuagane. A’o va’ai loa e le Tui Manu’a o le a o Malalatea ma Sina, na tau vavao e gaia la ua ae ua le mafai lava. Ina ua le mafai na ia faia lana mana’o, na ia fai ia Sina ma Malalatea e o ma ave le Fale’ula ma le tai tafola. Ona la ō laia ma ave i ‘Upolu i le nu’u o lo’o igoa nei ia Fale’ula.
Tui Manu’a came and took the daughter of Fe’epo for himself, the girl’s name was Sina. They then left to live in Manu’a. Sina commanded her brother Malalatea to come and visit. Malalatea then came to do work for the village. Sina knew her brother would be challenged crucially so she told him to come and tell her what the challenge was before he goes out to do it. When Malalatea went to see Tui Manu’a, he told him to go out and fish for the ava ceremony knowing it would be quite a challenge. When Malalatea told Sina what he had to do, she told him to throw a rock in the water to wake the sleeping fish. After doing so and catching many fish, Malalatea returned to shore. Tui Manu’a was in shock and thought maybe Malalatea was a ghost/spirit. As malalatea was leaving, Sina told Tui that she would leave with him. Unhappy with what was happening, Tui Manu’a tried to fight Malalatea. After not being able to stop them, Tui gave in thought “what can I give to my wife to take?” He then told them to go and take the Fale’ula. They did so and took it to ‘Upolu to the village that is now known as Fale’ula.
PART 2
ReplyDeleteIn the story ‘O le tala i le Fale’ula, a man Tui Manu’a married a girl named Sina who is the daughter of Fe’epo. The two run off to live in Manu’a. While in Manu’a Sina commands Malalatea, her brother, to come meet her in Manu’a. When her brother arrives, it is during the sacred kava ceremony of the village. The village was upset with him and wanted to kill him. Tui Manu’a tells him to go fetch and provide them food to feed the village. So Tu’ sends him to catch these fish which are dangerous to catch, and could die trying to catch them. Sina goes to help her brother because she does not want him to die. They both return and caught plenty of fish. Tui is shocked and thinks that Tui is some kind of magician or spirit for catching so much fish for the village. Sina then decides that she is going home with her brother because she is angry with what Tui made him do. Before they leave Tui gives Sina the Fale’ula to her family and to take with her to ‘Upolu. This is how the origin of the Fale’ula started in ‘Upolu.
One of the central themes in this story is that family has a stronger bond than any kind of relationship. In the samoan culture family is most important than anything. When it comes to marriage, in Westernized culture marriage is suppose to be permanent. You are to marry one person until death do you part. In Samoan culture marriage is not permanent but temporary. Marriage is more for procreation and the wife is free to leave when ever she feels the need to. Family will always be there for you. Another main theme in the story told is about feagaiga, which I will talk about later.
This tala is a story to teach a lesson to kids. There are many tala’s or stories that they tell kids, like fairy tale’s or stories to teach lessons. This is a way for the elder’s to get a message through to the kids. For the kids to learn different morals of stories that they are told. This is an origin story of how the Fale’ula came in ‘Upolu. The main moral of this story is to show how the sister and brother relationship is strong!
The Feagaiga is the Brother-Sister relationship in the Samoan culture. This is significant in the Samoan culture because it is one of the most special and sacred of these relationships between brother (tuagane) and sister (tuafaftine). The sister holds highest of the glory, dignity and sacredness in each family. The feagaiga is the main theme in ‘O le tala i le Fale’ula. It is significant in the tala because Malalatea listens to Sina and Sina helps Malalatea to survive. In the end Sina returns home with her brother because bond with Malalatea is more important than Tui Manu’a and her marriage. Feagaiga is what keeps our relationship strong between brothers and sisters. This is a mutual relationship, as the brothers listen to the sisters commands, she must also have respect for us and what we have to say to her.
Feagaiga is applicable to other aspects of the Samoan culture because it derives back to family. In Samoan culture ‘āiga (family) is strong and where we learn everything from. Everything we do is together as one in a family. The family will always be there for you and appreciate you for who you are. In the modern cultures, the feagaiga is not as strong as the Samoan culture. The modernized cultures, once they are married everything switches to their own family. The relationships between brother and sister is not so important as Samoan see it. We learn to have so much respect for our sister and see her as the glory for the family.
ReplyDeleteThe roles for the brothers to the sisters responsibilities were not easy. As a brother we must provide safety and well-being for the sister, making sure that she does not get hurt and is healthy and full of life. We must also protect her pa’ia (sacredness) and mamalu (dignity, glory, honor). This meant protecting her virginity, which meant chasing away suitors or avenging their sisters if anyone disrespected her honor. And last but not least, to do all the heavy work, which included cooking. Men did the cooking in Samoan culture and the sisters ate with their parents, while the brothers waited until they finished eating. After the parents and sisters ate, they brothers would bring cloth and bowl of water so their parents and sisters could wash. The sisters responsibilities to the brothers were to cheer them on and wish them well, preserve her pa’ia and mamalu, have decision making power in family situations, including the granting of titles. Sisters also were to bless or curse her brothers, his brothers’ wives and children.
These were manifested in the story of the Fale’ula when Sina commanded her to brother Malalatea to come visit her in Manu’a, and how she left Tui to come back to ‘Upolu. In the other story ‘O le tala iā Sina ma on a Tuagane, of Sina and her 10 brothers named Tui, these rules apply when the youngest brother of stays to protect Sina from the monster but she should have also listened to the brothers when they told her not to shout out their names. In the last story of Maluafiti and his sisters, they were treated wrong by the wife Sina, and Maluafiti was upset and went with his sisters back home because he did not want to be with his wife.
These themes of feagaiga can be relevant to todays society with Samoans because how strong we treat our women and sisters. It can teach these boys in society today to respect women and to have better relationships with their sisters. Respect is what can be taught from these themes and stories, not to sisters but to everyone.
Part 1
ReplyDelete1. ‘Sa usu Tafitofau ‘ia Ogafau
a. Tafitofau and Ogafau got married
2. Ona fanau lea I le tamateine e sefulu
a. And then gave birth to ten boys
3. Na fa’aigoa ‘o le tui
a. They named them Tui
4. Ina ua fanau le tamateine, sa latou igoa ‘o Sina
a. When they had a girl, they named it Sina
5. A’o matatua ia Sina, E va’ai le gogosina
a. While Sina grew up, she saw gogosina
6. Na fia le gogosina ‘o Sina
a. Sina wanted the gogosina
7. Sole Tui! Sau I le fale, na alaga
a. Tui come here, she called
8. Ona sau lea mai Tuiletafue
a. And then Tuiletafue came
9. Ona lea ua mana’o le sau ai e vaili lona ulu
a. And then gogosina asked her to brush his hair
10. Ua moe le sau’ai I vae o Sina
a. If fell asleep on Sina’s leg
11. Ina ua toe sau tamatane ua fefe
a. When the brothers returned, they were scared
12. Ua sosola Tui matatua
a. The oldest Tuis ran away
13. E le’i sola Tui pito I la’itiiti
a. The youngest tui stayed
14. Sa sau’ ai laulu o’ Tuioletafu’e I le fale.
a. He tied Tuiletafu’es hair to the house
15. Ona lea pa’u le fale I luga o Tuiletafue
a. And then the house fell down on Tuiletafue
16. Na oti o’ Tuioletau’e
a. Tuiletafue died
17. If her brother didn’t come, Sina would die
a. Na oti Sina ‘ā lē sa’u tuagane
The story ‘O le Fagono, ‘A ‘o Tafitofau la lenei ma Ogafau’ starts with a couple - Tafitofau and ‘Ogafau. ‘Ogafau gives birth to ten boys. They named all of them Tui -a popular name in Samoan storytelling. After their wishes ‘Ogafau finally gave birth to girl named Sina -another popular name in storytelling. As Sina grows up, she begins to pray when one day, she sees a dove. She wants her brothers to catch it so it can become her husband. Her brothers tell Sina to be quiet but without any patience, she yells “Sole Tui! Sau ‘I fale” (Tui, come here). This awakens the spirit of Tuiletafue. She then disappears with Tuiletafue while her brothers continue to search for her. Sina obeys anything Tuiletafue asks, even combing his hair. Finally the brothers find Sina, however they all run away in fright; everyone except for the youngest Tui. While Tuiletafue is asleep the youngest brother ties his hair to the ‘fale’ posts and runs away. As Tuiletafue wakes up and tries to chase them. The house falls down and kills Tuiletafue.
ReplyDeleteThe central theme in the story ‘O Sina ma ona Tuagane is the brother-sister relationship also known as feagaiga. In this story it teaches you to listen to your brother(s) and obey your sister(s). One example in the story was when Sina wanted to catch the dove. Her brothers told her to be quiet but she didn’t. This awakened the spirit therefore putting Sina in danger. If she had listened, she would have been safe. Another example is when all the Tui’s were trying to find Sina. When they got scared, everyone but the youngest ran away. He essentially obeyed her sister and rescued her.
The moral of the story is similar to the central theme – you should listen to those who are older and wiser. In Sina’s case, she had ten older brothers to listen to and she chose not to. Because of that she suffered. However the story also gives a message that family will be willing to help even if you make mistakes. It may have only been youngest Tui that saved her, but it shows that no matter how old you are, you still have a role in the family.
This tala is an example of a fagono. A fagono is a story that you can tell your kids. The reason for this is that it is a tale intermingled with a song. This makes it short and interesting for the kids. You then add the moral of the story of the feagaiga and it helps give them an example of what might happen should you not adhere to your brothers and/or sisters.
Feagaiga is one of the most special and sacred relationships in Samoan cultures. The sister (tuafafine) carries the glory, dignity (mamalu) and sacredness (pa ’ia) in the family (‘aiga).
ReplyDeleteSome of the responsibilities of the brother the sister are:
• To protect her safety and well-being
• To protect her sacredness (pa’ia) and dignity (mamalu)
o This includes protecting her virginity
o Avenging their sisters if anyone violated her honor
• To do all heavy work, which included cooking
o Men did the cooking in Samoan culture and the sisters ate with their parent
o The brothers wait until the women finished eating
o After their parents and sisters ate, the brothers would bring a cloth and bowl so their parents and sisters could wash
Some responsibilities of the sister to her brother were to:
• Tapua’i – to cheer on, wish well on her brothers
• Preserve his pai’a and mamalu until marriage
• Have decision-making power in many family situations
• Were entitled to certain mats and other displays of wealth
• Bless and/or curse her brothers, his brothers’ wives and children
In this story the brother provided Sina her safety and well-being even if she didn’t obey her brothers. In the story ‘O le tala I le Fale’ula, Sina helps Malalatea overcome dangers and challenges before they leave Manu’a. This is another example of family providing safety and taking care of each other. ‘O Sina ma Malaufiti’ reinforces cultural values while again teaching us about feagaiga. After initially visiting Fiji to find a wife for Maluafiti, they later find that Sina isn’t nice and no one likes her. She is mean to Maluafiti’s sisters so Maluafiti decides to return to Samoa. Sina later dies while trying to follow Maluafiti. This portrays two things- you need to be kind to the sisters, and that family comes before anything.
In today’s society, feagaiga continues to be highly important. Protecting your family is one of the most important things in life. As a brother you want to do as much as possible to protect your sister’s safety and well-being. As a sister you want to protect the brother’s virginity. No matter if you are younger or older, you still have a role in the family. After attending the Umu, I can now relate feagaiga to society today. Even though it wasn’t exactly brother-sister relationships at the umu, they still had similar responsibilities. I noticed the men did all the heavy work which included cutting, scarping, and squeezing the coconuts to eventually get coconut cream. The women helped out where needed but they weren’t just sitting around doing nothing. They were seen supporting the men and doing light work like wrapping the coconut leaves in tin foil