THE POLYNESIAN ALPHABET. 25 



to it than the supported hw. Except for mutation to the semivowel w 

 in Maori and Hawaii, the sonant holds its own. 



One general word should be said as to the character of the mutation 

 of the consonants in these languages. It is essentially mutation within 

 the series, with two important exceptions later to be noted. The 

 reason for this is simple. The consonant is made by one of three speech- 

 organs ; when for any reason that consonant is to undergo variation it is 

 only natural that it should vary to some other consonant producible by 

 the same organ. For the more part the direction of such mutation is 

 upward in the series. This accords with the belief that the consonants 

 nearest the vowel area are the first acquired and the most easy to use, 

 and in all variety general tendencies to revert to older and to easier 

 forms are conspicuous. 



The first exception to the law of mutation in series is the interchanges 

 of ng-n and n-ng, each quite common in the nasals, mutation extra 

 seriem. An examination of the slight variations in the two positions 

 of the veil of the palate when more or less completely dropped to afford 

 an entrance of the resonating air column to the nose and its outflow 

 through the nostrils will prove how easily such two mutations may 

 arise.* It fits in with what must rest as the basic principle of all these 

 sound varieties, the inept workman's inability to master all at once a 

 tool which in dexterous usage may be directed to precise employment. 



The second exception is the kappation of t, which is found in Samoa 

 and Hawaii. In each case it has been preceded by the abolition of the 

 true k, and then in a quite modern reaction the t has been sacrificed to 

 replace the missing sound in the alphabet. f This movement was in 

 progress in Hawaii when it was first discovered; it was facilitated and 

 hastened to completion by the missionaries, who chose the new sound 



*We note with the interest which must always attach to the subject an instance in English 

 speech. The noun derivative of strong is strength and our standardized pronunciation retains 

 the palatal nasal. But there was formerly, in the most excellent authority there yet remains, 

 the variant strenth, and this form finds dictionary place even in spelling. The nasal is 

 attracted from the palate to the tongue by reason of the superior ease in passing to the next 

 succeeding lingual spirant. 



fWithout recognition of the inexorability of the speech-principle here set forth as operative 

 the teachers of Samoa are vainly struggling to stay the deformation of the speech. Early 

 in November, 191 1, Governor-General Crose, U. S. N., in the American colony of Tutuila, 

 held the first Teachers' Institute ever brought together in Samoa. From the report pub- 

 lished in Samoan in "Le Sulu" we extract this pertinent note. 



"The great difficulty is the nanu (gibberish speech) which destroys and corrupts the 

 Samoan speech. The word talatala in men's speech is distorted into kalakala and it is 

 impossible to recognize the diversity of t and k. They should strive after the language in 

 its purity as it has been handed down through the generations from their remote ancestors. 

 Let no one give attention to the sneer that he is speaking in the tongue of the missionary. 

 For it is not the language of the missionary, but it is the true language of Samoa and it 

 should be cherished and loved as a sacred possession. So, too, is the continual interchange 

 of and ng. One who comes to ask for medicine on the plea that his mother is ill {'ua tigd 

 lo'u Una) really announces that his ache has become a mother {'ua tina lo'u tiga). Would 

 not one think that this distortion of the Samoan would be uprooted by the Samoan school- 

 masters on account of their love for their language in its purity? Nothing of the sort, for 

 the majority of the Samoan teachers speak this gibberish all the time and are devoid of 

 understanding." 



