Tusiʻupu Sāmoa: Sāmoan to English

Book excerpt: Dr Ma'ia'i grew up with The Rev. George Pratt's A Grammar and Dictionary of the Samoan Language, with English and Samoan Vocabulary, published 1862. Pratt's aim was to provide English translations of everyday Samoan words of the time - so that business could be done and bibles translated. Dr Ma'ia'i's aim is not to challenge Pratt but rather to correct this over simplification of an oral language where real meaning comes from context. Pratt - a missionary for the London Missionary Society - lacked the necessary oral and historical knowledge to translate the use and context of words. Dr Ma'ia'i also acknowledges the legacy of G.B Milner's 1966 Samoan Dictionary. Milner's was a more academic approach concerned primarily with spelling and translation. Along with a word list he provided some examples of usage. Dr Ma'ia'i is Tusi'upu Samoa provides more cultural and historical context. Volume One contains the Samoan to English text.