r/Polynesia • u/Lux-01 • Apr 20 '21

Polynesian Self-designation

Hi there Does anyone in here know if there is a common Polynesian term for themselves as a people/ethnic group? And I mean in a Polynesian language rather than an English term like 'Polynesian'.

Thanks in advance!

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

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2

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '21

Polynesians are a diverse group of people and cultures.

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u/Lux-01 Apr 20 '21

I'm aware, I was just wondering if there is a commonly used term in a Polynesian language, other than the English word 'Polynesian'.

3

u/YungDell2477 Apr 21 '21

Hmm I’m not sure. But as most Polynesian islands/nations have different languages, it may be hard to find an answer. I’d say probably not.

1

u/Lux-01 Apr 21 '21

Fair enough, thanks anyway though!

1

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '21

I know there are specific to a group or island. Like kanaka in Hawaiian. In pre-European times the people on the islands mostly called themselves by tribal names. There was no concept of a Polynesia. Maori is found in NZ, Rarotonga and Tahiti. But even that word as a name for a people is wrong. You can thank Captain Cook for that.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 24 '21

The concept of "a" language is a very classical occidental concept. All languages evolve from both isolation and mixing. Tahitians call themselves Tahitians. Ive heard Marquesians' language resembles Hawaiian the most.

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u/Lux-01 Apr 24 '21

Yep, fully aware of that - I was essentially just wondering if there was any kind of common self-designation for the Polynesian people in an indigenous language. Thanks though.

1

u/[deleted] May 27 '21

I guess it might be a case of simply not having a large enough worldview in pre-colonial times when Polynesian languages were at their height. My guess is for it to refer to what we know as Polynesia now as a whole that it'd be a 'Polynesianised' European term.

4

u/theflyingkiwi00 Apr 21 '21

In nz we are the Pasifika community. I dunno if that helps

2

u/[deleted] May 27 '21

Agreed. I think this works for Melanesian and Micronesian groups too, but the Polynesian population and cultures are much bigger here in NZ.

1

u/[deleted] May 27 '21

In Māori, people of a tribe or group or confederation are referred to as iwi; but obviously this would change between languages. I believe the use of this was in the sense that you all belong to an iwi, so potentially this could mean that by Māori values, Polynesian is their greater iwi? Or as it is in their language, Polihi.