How Hawai'i Became the Most Literate Nation in the World \\ Language of a Nation Ep. 1
Summary
TLDRThe script discusses the decline of the Hawaiian language and its historical significance. It highlights how language is a reflection of culture and identity, and how the Hawaiian Kingdom was once a literate and progressive nation with Hawaiian as its primary language. The script also touches on the role of missionaries in introducing literacy and the importance of language in diplomacy and national continuity. It emphasizes the need to reclaim and understand true history to preserve cultural heritage.
Takeaways
- 🌐 Language is a reflection of culture and identity, deeply intertwined with how people perceive the world and their place within it.
- 📚 The Hawaiian Kingdom had a rich history of literacy and education, with a focus on both native Hawaiian and foreign languages.
- 🗣️ The shift from Hawaiian to English was not forced but was a gradual societal change influenced by global interactions and the need for diplomacy.
- 🏛️ The Hawaiian Kingdom was a progressive and modern nation with a well-established legal and educational system.
- 📈 The literacy rate in Hawaii was remarkably high, surpassing that of the United States during the 19th century.
- 📰 Newspapers played a crucial role in disseminating information, fostering literacy, and providing a platform for public discourse in Hawaii.
- 🏫 Education was compulsory and valued by the Hawaiian society, with a strong emphasis on learning and intellectual growth.
- 🌱 The introduction of English in Hawaii was facilitated by missionaries and was seen as a tool for engagement with the world.
- 🏞️ The Hawaiian Kingdom's downfall and the subsequent shift in language use is deeply rooted in its political history and the loss of sovereignty.
- 🔍 Contemporary scholarship is uncovering and challenging historical narratives that have misrepresented the Hawaiian Kingdom's autonomy and legal systems.
- 🌟 The resilience and diplomacy of the Hawaiian people are evident in their efforts to maintain their culture and language amidst colonization and globalization.
Q & A
Why does the speaker suggest that language is more than just a means of communication?
-Language is described as a 'code of thinking' and a 'framework' that shapes how we perceive the world. It's integral to cultural identity and can influence how people think and behave, which is why transforming language can affect societal transformation.
What is the role of language in shaping the identity of a nation according to the transcript?
-Language is portrayed as a critical element of national identity. It's mentioned that without a country perspective, language is reduced to a native culture, which has been manipulated and decontextualized from its historical significance.
Why did the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom happen in 1893 according to the speaker?
-The speaker implies that the overthrow was unnecessary if the narrative of continuous foreign control over the Hawaiian Kingdom was true. It suggests that the event was a result of false narratives and misunderstandings about the Kingdom's history and autonomy.
What is the significance of the research mentioned in the transcript regarding the Hawaiian Kingdom?
-The research is uncovering historical inaccuracies and challenging the false narratives that have been accepted about the Hawaiian Kingdom. It aims to reframe the understanding of the Kingdom's history and its people's agency.
How did the introduction of the English language in Hawaii impact the native population, as described in the script?
-The introduction of English was initially seen as a tool to engage with the world and become bilingual. It was embraced as a means to improve education and global citizenship, rather than as a replacement for the Hawaiian language.
What was the role of literacy in the Hawaiian Kingdom during the 19th century?
-Literacy was highly valued and became a national project. It was seen as a means to improve wisdom and was mandated for children by law in 1846, leading to a high literacy rate that exceeded that of the U.S. at the time.
Why did the Hawaiian language decline in use, as suggested by the transcript?
-The decline was more due to political history than organic social change. The shift from Hawaiian to English was a result of the political changes and the annexation of Hawaii by the United States, rather than a natural societal preference.
How did newspapers contribute to the literacy and worldview of the Hawaiian people during the Kingdom era?
-Newspapers were a venue for expressing opinions, downloading information, and engaging with global events. They played a crucial role in promoting literacy and broadening the worldview of the Hawaiian population.
What does the speaker mean when they say 'the written archive of Hawaiian language is maybe the largest archive of religious writings in the world'?
-The speaker highlights the extensive documentation of Hawaiian language in newspapers and other writings, which includes a vast collection of religious texts, suggesting the depth and richness of the language's literary heritage.
How did the use of language in governance reflect the multi-ethnic nature of the Hawaiian population?
-The use of Hawaiian language in various branches of governance, including judiciary, legislative assembly, and executive branch, reflected the diverse population and the importance of the native language in maintaining cultural identity and unity.
Outlines
🌍 Cultural and Linguistic Transformation in Hawaii
The paragraph discusses the complex reasons behind the decline of the Hawaiian language and the influence of external factors on the native population's identity and thinking. It highlights the importance of language as a reflection of a nation's history and culture, and how the Hawaiian Kingdom's history has been manipulated to erase its agency. The speaker emphasizes the need to uncover and understand the true history to reclaim cultural heritage. The paragraph also touches on the introduction of the English language to Hawaii by Captain Cook and how it became a tool for Hawaiians to engage with the world, rather than a replacement for their native language.
📚 The Rise of Literacy and Education in Hawaii
This paragraph outlines the historical push for literacy in Hawaii, starting with King Kamehameha III's announcement of a national literacy movement. It details how the Hawaiian population took pride in learning to read and write, making education a national project. The paragraph also explains the role of public and private schools in language education, with public schools not becoming English immersion schools but private ones doing so, established by chiefs and missionaries. The importance of the English language as a tool for diplomacy and global engagement is underscored, along with the high literacy rates in Hawaii compared to the U.S. at the time. The paragraph concludes with the significance of newspapers in fostering a broad worldview among Hawaiians and their role in preserving knowledge and cultural expressions.
🏛️ The Political and Social Shifts Impacting Hawaiian Language
The final paragraph delves into the political history of Hawaii and its impact on the Hawaiian language, suggesting that the shift from Hawaiian to English was more a result of political changes than organic societal evolution. It discusses how the judiciary, legislative assembly, and executive branch all conducted their affairs in Hawaiian, indicating a vibrant and progressive country. The paragraph also mentions the role of the Aboriginal population in building the current infrastructure and the importance of the Hawaiian language in diplomacy and survival strategies in a globalized world. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the wealth of Hawaiian language documents and newspapers that serve as a window into another world, providing insight into the identity and aspirations of the Hawaiian people.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Language
💡Indoctrination
💡Hawaiian Kingdom
💡False Narrative
💡Literacy
💡Cultural Identity
💡De-Anglicization
💡Diplomacy
💡Overthrow
💡Bilingualism
💡Globalization
Highlights
Language is a code of thinking and a framework for understanding the world.
Transforming the coding of how people think can influence their identity and citizenship.
Hawaiian Kingdom's history has been manipulated to appear as if it was always controlled by foreigners.
The overthrow in 1893 contradicts the narrative of continuous foreign control.
Ignorance is less dangerous than the false narrative of history that people believe they know.
Contemporary scholarship is uncovering the true history of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
The Kingdom era's legal system preserved much of what is now considered lost.
The narrative that Hawaiians do not own their history or laws is false.
The United States aimed to make Hawaiians believe that their laws and international laws were not theirs.
Understanding true history is more important than just learning language or crafts.
English was introduced to Hawaii when Captain Cook arrived.
Hawaiians had an advanced agricultural system and were productive farmers.
The influx of people to Hawaii was due to Captain Cook mapping the Pacific.
Hawaiian was the national language, and the kingdom was unified by the time of the missionaries' arrival.
The missionaries' primary interest was in writing, which led to the creation of a Hawaiian spelling system.
Ka`ahumanu, a high chief, was one of the first to learn reading and writing in Hawaiian.
Kali Kali, when he became king, made literacy a national project.
In 1846, a law was passed making education compulsory for all children in Hawaii.
English was seen as a tool for Hawaiians to engage with the world and become bilingual.
Hawaiians had a broad worldview and were engaged with global affairs.
The literacy rate in Hawaii was over 90% by the 1850s, higher than in the U.S.
Newspapers became a venue for expressing opinions and downloading information.
Hawaiian language newspapers were a significant archive of religious writings.
The shift from Hawaiian to English was more due to political history than social organic change.
Hawaiians used diplomacy as a survival strategy in the 19th century.
Transcripts
why my people do not speak our language
today in the way that we should the
reasons are complex in compound language
really is the code of thinking it is
really the framework and how we see the
world and so if you can transform the
coding of how people think it's a lot
easier to transform them to becoming
so-called a great good American citizens
you could take that away from this new
generation when they become the adults
right they'll be indoctrinated in a
particular way we don't know what the
Hawaiian Kingdom was so today when we
speak about language it's void of a
country perspective it's rather spoken
to as if it's a native culture it's
spoken to as if only the natives have
that culture that's because we've been
dean Ashin alized and contemporary
scholarship has manipulated the history
of the Hawaiian Kingdom as if it was
always controlled by the Horner
it is so untrue and it's so easy to
deconstruct just with the historical
documents if they were in control during
that whole time why did they have to
overthrow themselves in 1893 it not
knowing is one thing but thinking you
know as they thought you do know that's
even worse that's the danger and that's
the power of that false narrative of
that story we've been fed of that story
we've bought into with research that is
being done now we are now uncovering
these issues that are undermining and
rebuking what we thought in the kingdom
era and that's we're starting to find
out that the kingdom arrow was agency we
give away so much that is ours
this is where all of these things were
preserved in law that's the magic right
there one of the biggest things we don't
realize this is our and the story we've
been fed is this is not yours
your history is not yours the
missionaries gave you law the
missionaries gave you private property
private properties not yours
laws not yours if I'm the United States
of America
I want you to believe in Kingdom law is
not yours and want you to believe that
international law is not yours
because then I never have to answer
those questions it's not just a matter
of learning some point words or doing
some Hawaiian arts and crafts it's
really about really understanding what
our true history is what is a true
history
[Music]
boy is history is pretty incredible
English language actually was introduced
to Hawaii when Captain Cook arrived
every single one of them to a tea talks
about how Hawaii is farmed beyond
anywhere in the Pacific you could not
grow anything more on this land
Hawaiians got this agriculture thing
down there loving their system of
irrigation land is as productive as can
be and then you start to see the influx
of people coming to Hawaii because of
what Captain Cook did which was map the
Pacific now ships could find Hawaii and
he became the crossroads of many ships
coming through and also many different
languages but the language here was
Hawaiian it was the native language
that's the national language by the time
those who follow cooked as there is
elapsed the kingdom is pretty well
unified Vancouver's hearing Lee
registers that two of the Chiefs and
Kamehameha skort won't leave this ship
they just keep hanging out by the guy
who's doing the ledgers they could see
that magic I mean it's a technology I
can write something down give it to you
you give it to him and he knows what I
want but there's nobody to teach it
until the missionaries come 18:20 he
lets them you know you can talk about
your religion but that's not their great
interest their great interest from the
time the missionaries landed was writing
and so on the other thing is points had
already been interacting with the
Western world for
years so in Kaahumanu you know meets up
with missionary she's having foreigners
in her life for most of her adult life
so they teach her reading and writing it
takes a year and a half for Hawaiian to
be knocked down to a spelling system
they finish it in January of 1822
I have letters from Kaahumanu and more
beautiful handwriting than you'll ever
do in June of 1822
the first letter that I have she's
writing to kabamaru who is the queen
that dies in London with Leo Leo a few
years later and she's saying I got your
letter but there's three of us I only
got one left
I want plenty left I want 800 letters
you choose you're with the long neck's
get some help on this she says we want
the teaching of literacy this will make
us wise I mean this is one of the
highest most powerful Chiefs in the
kingdom and just deciding we want this
and that motivation just moves right
from there straight forward Kali Kali
when he comes to the throne announces my
mobilization of literacy he doesn't just
say he's already literate so he's not
saying you know we must aspire he's
saying I want to share this everybody
takes pride in learning to read and
write it becomes a national project in
1846 there's a law that states that
children are mandated to go to school so
school is compulsory in Hawaii children
at that time are being educated in
Hawaii everybody who's in Hawaii whether
you're Hawaiian or not it's going to
employ in school but there was a great
interest in a lot of wines were learning
English English and other languages
actually have loins were fluent in
German were
Chinese because of the interaction of
the world and a lot of the high-level
positions in the government had to be
given to English speakers offensive
foreigners because the interaction was
so critical to national continuity
Hawaiians critique of how come so many
foreigners in the government and the
government wrote back the King wrote
back saying we have to have that
interface until we can improve the body
of folk that we can draw from we have to
use these people so there's a move
within the population to improve the
body you can draw from well the public
schools ended up not becoming English
immersion schools but private schools
became English immersion established by
the Chiefs Iolani st. Andrews Priory
when all created by the missionaries oh
come ms schools these were English
immersion schools it's not that they
were trying to weed out the native
language or ban the native language
that's organic societal shift lion is
still the language of the kingdom Queen
Emma when she starts in the first
Anglican school in Lahaina Maui she
insists this disappoint students learn
English nowadays sometimes we think of
those two languages as English as the
bad language in Hawaii is the good
language because English has supplanted
Hawaiians but in the 1860s and 70s and
so forth Hawaiians saw English as a tool
to engage the world with to be bilingual
no one thought Hawaiian was gonna
disappear learning English gave you that
much more of an education there's a
quest to become really citizens of the
globe of course that was the foundation
for the educational system that was
emerging at that time and also the body
of literature that began to be produced
at that point in time and of course this
is happening
you know the first printing press of
course up at Mahina Luna the new first
newspapers are founded in 1834 just for
the teachers college but the whole
nation wants so that kicks off the
newspapers become this venue
there are english-language newspapers
piss Chinese there's Portuguese language
newspapers Hawaii is a multi-racial
nation Hawaiian is the main language of
the nation throughout the 1840s you see
this sort of blue Hawaiian literacy
families and children they would circle
up around the table and read the
newspaper together we started like 1850
getting reports out for those who can't
read it right and where would you find
them everyone every peril farmer and
diplomat can read and write in at least
time a generation in you have almost a
universal literacy the literacy rate in
the u.s. at the time was about 73% in
Hawaii was well over 90% by the 1850s
and especially 1861 now newspapers
become a commercial endeavor and it's
wide open they rely on their readership
to fill them so it becomes a nexus for
everybody to express their opinion it
becomes the place to download
information and they weren't just
illiterate they were engaged people
wrote in and said I want to see this
done by the governor we reading about
what was happening all over the world
Cinderella and and all kinds of Western
that were translated in putting on new
speakers too so what it shows us is that
the worldview of people throughout the
Kingdom period was very broad there are
a hundred different newspapers sometimes
two three five at the same time some of
them only ran for six months one of them
ran for 70 years some of them more eight
pages most of the work for pages but the
size of the Wall Street Journal by 1860
there's been a number of plagues that
came through and they realized that the
knowledgeable people dying is like a
library burning down so in the
newspapers you get people writing in as
a those of you who are knowledgeable
write it down it'll be safe here so many
of the Molalla that we have today
I'm a k-12 Pio and Pelin Yaka they're
sort of published like how so proper
sort of feed you a piece every day where
you know you have to read the next one
in order to get the next piece and so on
and so forth the written archive of
Hawaiian language is maybe the largest
archive of religious writings in the
world
we found a chant composed by command man
in the first for the birth of his second
son how he killed me but nobody even
knew he had ever composed anything you
know we've been able to compile these
massive Monello by mining car ho mah
newspaper we have a hundred twenty-five
thousand patients of Hawaiian language
newspapers these sites these papers
comes out to about a million eight by
eleven size sheets of Hawaiians writing
about away it's the window into another
world
[Music]
we have tens of thousands of wine
language documents legal documents
letters letters from pastors to the King
letters from the Madonna to the king and
so forth we have a nation speaking about
who they are and in what they were and
we've never listened to them but it was
that Aboriginal population that built
the current infrastructure that we still
used today so that meant that the
judiciary spoke law and the bicameral
legislative assembly spoke oil the
executive branch spoke Hawaiian the
cabinet spoke oil the Department of
Education spoken the fire department
spoken the police department spoken
right so you had a somewhat modern
vibrant progressive country in which a
multi-ethnic national population was
speaking Hawaiian it's a very diverse
population
voyons make up the majority all the way
through about that hundred and twenty
year span we go from being one of the
most literate people on the face of this
earth to one of the most inveterate you
have a complete replacement you have a
complete flip from all Hawaiian to all
English by the time Hawaii becomes a
state zero Hawaiian language newspapers
aesthetical in science and that has to
do with the political history of Hawaii
more so than social organic change the
Hawaiian language record opens up that
story in a way that has not been
accessible for hundred years
the kind of diplomacy that you see
Hawaiians putting forth in the
nineteenth century are survival
strategies right no longer could we
reuse the spear to win wars right now we
realize that that in order to survive in
what's becoming a globalized world right
we're gonna need to learn how to be very
diplomatic but he holds weekly sedatives
King and all of his ruling team but
we're talking a year and he wants to
know how are all these other countries
running their show
[Music]
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