THE LANGUAGE OF HAWAII. 
57 
The speaker had simply repeated in new phraseology the 
substance of his previous remarks, and so skillfully was it 
done that the friend, although somewhat conversant with 
the tongue, was misled by Kanaka volubility. 
Here we have a distinguishing feature in Polynesian 
methods of thought. By its very simplicity, its lack of ge¬ 
neric terms, and its flexibility, the Hawaiian tongue is capable 
of almost endless expression of the simplest ideas. As we 
trace the growth of the language, influenced by the peculiar 
environment and temperament of the people, the causes of 
its unique construction become apparent. In illustration of 
this idea we shall add a few remarkable characteristics of 
Oceanic speech: 
Three Numbers. —They have three numbers: the singular, 
dual, and plural. This appeared also in the parent speech 
of Western tongues, and was preserved in the Aryan, old Bul¬ 
garian, and in (Homeric and Attic) Greek; and, however 
strange in English, is but one of the many traces of an early 
contact in the primitive tongues. 
Throughout all Polynesia, and even as far east as the In¬ 
dian archipelago, we find that peculiar, but very rational, 
idea which requires the use of a distinguishing word when 
the person addressed is included or excluded in the state¬ 
ment made. The rule applies both to the dual and plural 
numbers. 
Hele maua means we two went, excluding the person 
spoken to. 
Hele kaua means we two went, including the person 
addressed. 
Of course, the first expression requires the presence of at 
least three persons ; the second admits the presence of only 
two. 
Hele makou means that we (myself and party) went, 
but not you. 
Hele kakou, we (myself and party) went, and you as 
well. 
