NEWSPAGE 12 August
2011

(Photo: New Zealand First)

(Photos: Pacific Scoop)

SAMOA: Faáfafines’ unconventional use of language evolves into Samoan dialect
Source: Pacific Scoop

To the untrained ear, the language used by faáfafines in Samoa, may just sound like common slang, or bilingual mockery.

But according to a study by Samoan academic, Letuimanuasina Dr Emma Kruse-Vaai, the unconventional use of Samoan and English by faáfafines has led to a distinctive “faáfafines dialect,” that is ever evolving.

In her recently published book, Producing the Text of Culture, which focuses on the appropriation of English in contemporary Samoan, Dr Kruse-Vaai explores the role of the faáfafines in the evolution of the Samoan language.

“The faáfafines use a specific mixture of English and Samoan. Their unconventional language use, ostentatious clothing, assumed feminine voices and mannerisms have always been openly displayed.”

Dr Kruse-Vaai points out the open acceptance of faáfafines in the Samoan society as strength in developing the dialect among Samoans.

“Faáfafines are a distinctive speech community and they are also very much a part of the wider Samoan community.”

According to the author, a Samoan relative can explain their relation to a faáfafines by stating, “Ioe, o lou uncle, o le uso o lou tama ae o le aunty,” translated, “Yes he is my uncle, my father’s brother, but he is an aunty.”

Though it may sound confusing Dr Kruse-Vaai says it is widespread and commonly understood.

“Like other speech communities, faáfafines language use involves some expressions which are not readily comprehensible to others. The topics or content are a mixture of everyday concerns and activities as well as taboo subjects.”

A common feature of the faáfafine speech, according to Dr Kruse-Vaai, is a distinctively high, sibilant and feminine sounding tone of voice.

In her research, which was originally conducted for her PhD in English for the University of New South Wales in Australia, the Samoan academic suggests that aspects of the faáfafine dialect resembles the accent of a European speaking Samoan.

“In a way this is a good example of mimicking European speech but it has gone farther than mere mimicking. It has become as a distinctive feature of faáfafine speech which can be readily identified over a telephone radio talkback.”

Dr Kruse-Vaai explains that faáfafines play on multi-syllabled words, both English and Samoan, and either invert the syllables of mix both Samoan and English syllables in one word.

Therefore Samoan words with double syllables are inverted, such as terms for girl and boy: teine and tama, in faáfafines dialect then becomes neite and mata.

In the faafafine dialect, multi-syllable words are either inverted or mixed to create other terms, such as the use of the word ‘Sa-chick’, which means Samoa or Samoans.

The first syllable “Sa” remains the same, while the second syllable “moa” which means chicken, is abbreviated “chick” hence the word becomes, “Sa-chick” or “Sa-hen”.

The faáfafines dialect include words such as, Montrella for Monday, sistra for sister, strop for stop and major for boyfriend.

Dr Kruse-Vaai praises the uniqueness of the dialect in her book saying: “The unconventional use of language by faáfafine is partly a sign of identity as a well as a genuine enjoyment of language and its creative potential. They are an example of a smaller and distinctive speech community in Samoa.”
 

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Dr Kruse-Vaai believes faáfafine dialect resembles the accent of a European speaking Samoan.

Photo 2 - Producing the Text of Culture ... the book.

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

AUSTRALIA: New tools provide insight into the Pacific’s changing climate
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

The understanding of how the Pacific climate has changed and the effects of past tropical cyclones will be enhanced by three new tools launched on Wednesday (August 10, 2011) at the 14th meeting of Regional Meteorological Services Directors in the Marshall Islands.

The three computer-based tools have been developed by the Australian Government’s Pacific Climate Change Science Program (PCCSP) in collaboration with the National Meteorological Services of 14 Pacific island nations and East Timor.

“The aim has been to improve access to historical climate information and support the role of National Meteorological Services in building understanding of climate change and assisting plans for adaptation,” said Dr David Jones from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

The Pacific Climate Change Data Portal and the Pacific Tropical Cyclone Data Portal are freely available websites that provide a historical perspective of the climate of the Pacific. The third tool being launched is CliDE (Climate Data for the Environment), which is a custom-designed database management system to be used in National Meteorological Services in 15 countries for managing historical climate data.

“The Pacific Climate Change Data Portal is the largest web-based data source in the Pacific region. This user-friendly tool provides access to climate trends and basic climate information from more than 90 individual observation sites across the Pacific islands and East Timor,” said Mr Simon McGree from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

“The Pacific Tropical Cyclone Data Portal can be used to plot tracks of cyclones in the South Pacific between 1969 and 2010. It can be used, for example, to analyse the tracks of past tropical cyclones and relate them to the impact on lives and infrastructure,” said Dr Jones.

“Through the data in these portals, we can see that the climate of the Pacific has been warming significantly with the past decade being the warmest on record across the region. In contrast, we find little change in tropical cyclones which continue to be dominated by year to year variability,” said Dr Jones.

PCCSP scientists, from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), have been researching past climate trends and natural variability, as well as developing climate projections for 14 Pacific nations and East Timor. The full results of this comprehensive climate assessment will be issued in November 2011.

The PCCSP is part of the Australian Government’s $328 million, five-year International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative, which commenced in 2008 and aims to help vulnerable countries, particularly small island developing states and least developed countries, adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. The Initiative is funded through the Australian aid program and jointly managed by AusAID and the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.

Photo Caption: Participants at the 14th meeting of Regional Meteorological Services Directors in the Marshall Islands.

(Photo: Leigh Blackall)

TUVALU: Consultations on Tuvalu Education Strategic Plan
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release
 

The Tuvalu Ministry of Education with assistance from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat on 9th August 2011 conducted internal consultations on the development of its Education Strategic Plan (TESP II) for 2011-2015.

The purpose of the internal consultation was to provide the officials within the Ministry an opportunity to discuss with school managements, youth officers, Tuvalu National Library Services officials and teachers the draft Plan for their inputs and views.

A total of 75 participants attended the consultation showing the great interest by school officials and other stakeholders in the development of education in Tuvalu.

According to Tuvalu’s Director for Education, Ms Katalina Taloka, the large number of those who turned up for the consultation was totally unexpected as they were planning only for about 30 participants.

“The large turnout is encouraging and gives the Ministry confidence that they have the support of their stakeholders,” said Ms Taloka.

She added: “TESP II includes some innovative strategies in education development that we believe to be critical if Tuvalu is to provide better opportunities to education at all levels for students. However we are aware of the challenges we face in implementing TESP II but are optimistic of the support from our stakeholders and especially the donor community.”

Tuvalu’s Acting Minister of Education, who is also the Minister for Finance, Hon Lotoala Metia in his opening remarks at the meeting stressed the importance of developing Tuvalu’s human resources in moving the country forward in its economic reforms and national development.

“Tuvalu as a small island nation will heavily rely on a well qualified and skilled human resource to take up lead roles and participate in the work force,” said Hon. Metia.

He added: “The development of TESP II is timely as the nation reviews its National Development Plan, Te Kakeega II with the national consultation on the review planned for October 2011. This is a mid-term review of the National Plan and the review should provide important information for the development of the respective sector plans.”

An important objective of the consultation on TESP II is to extend ownership to all stakeholders in education in Tuvalu of the Plan. Through a feeling of greater ownership in the Plan, it is believed that schools, teachers, communities and all stakeholders will feel responsible for its implementation and success. The next phase of the consultation will be a national forum which will involve all stakeholders and the public who will be given an opportunity to have their say in the TESP II. The national consultation will be held on 17 August 2011.

Photo Caption: Tuvalu’s Director for Education, Ms Katalina Taloka.
 

USA: FEMA to provide over $50 million to rebuild power plant in American Samoa
Source: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release
 

Congressman Faleomavaega announced yesterday that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is awarding $6.6 million to American Samoa Power Authority’s (ASPA) to fund its preliminary plans to replace the Satala Power Generation Facility (Plant). This initial amount covers funding for the architect/engineer, and tie-line/feeder replacement and/or modifications. According to FEMA, once preliminary plans are submitted and FEMA has completed an Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) review, the remainder of the over $50 million project will be awarded.

The tragic events of the earthquake and tsunami that struck American Samoa on September 29, 2009 caused considerable damage to the Satala Power Plant electro-mechanical systems. Findings from the ensuing inspection revealed that salt water rendered irreparable damage to most of the electrical power generation on the Plant site and much of the associated mechanical equipment. ASPA estimated that it would cost around $50 million to fully replace the Plant, including but not limited to the replacement of the building, 23 megawatts of generating equipment (diesel generator sets), switch gear, transformers, radiators, tie-lines, and fuel tanks.

“I want to thank Chairman Asaua Fuimaono and the ASPA Board for their leadership on this important project. Because we don’t have a national grid to rely on for backup in the event of a power failure, rebuilding the Satala Plant to be fully functional is very critical to ensure that we have a stable and reliable system in place,” Faleomavaega said.

“This award also demonstrates the hard work and dedication of the ASPA staff. I especially want to congratulate Chief Executive Officer Andra Samoa for all her efforts and advocacy on this project,” Faleomavaega said.

“Finally, I want to commend FEMA, especially Regional Administrator of Region IX, Nancy Ward, for all the assistance provided to American Samoa in our recovery from the tragic events and devastation of September 2009,” Faleomavaega added.

“The tsunami of 2009 has left an indelible mark on American Samoa. And as we move forward on this long road to recovery, I am pleased that the federal government continues to provide critical funding and resources to help us along the way,” Faleomavaega concluded.
 

(Photo: Pacific Islands Applied GeoScience Commission)

WORLDWIDE: SOPAC boss named to International Seabed Authority Commission
Source: Pacific Islands Applied GeoScience Commission Press Release

Dr Russell Howorth, Director of the Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC) of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has been appointed to the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority (ISA).

The ISA has been mandated with signatories of 162 countries to manage the mineral resources of the international seabed beyond national jurisdiction.

The Legal and Technical Commission consists of 25 members elected by the ISA Council for 5 years. The election of members is based on personal qualifications relevant to exploration, exploitation and processing of mineral resources, oceanography, economic and/or legal matters concerning ocean mining and related fields.

The appointment of Dr Howorth to the Commission will ensure the interest of Fiji and Pacific Island Countries are addressed said Ambassador Peter Thomson, Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations.

“This is particularly important given the approval by the Authority at its recent meeting of applications by Nauru and Tonga for seabed exploration work plans in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the eastern Pacific Ocean,” said Ambassador Thomson.

Ambassador Thomson said “international interest in seabed mining was in a growth stage, and that accordingly ISA, SOPAC and the Fiji Government were planning to host a Pacific Regional Workshop at the end of November this year. The workshop is expected to address environmental management needs for deep sea mineral exploration and exploitation."

The Legal and Technical Commission is entrusted with various functions relating to activities in the deep seabed area of international waters, including the review of applications for plans of work, supervision of exploration or mining activities, assessment of the environmental impact of such activities and provide advice to the International Seabed Authority’s Assembly and Council on all matters relating to exploration and exploitation of non-living marine resources.

Photo Caption: Dr Russell Howorth.