NCEA L1 Gagana Tokelau key terms

The Tokelauan word for language or speech, used when naming the language itself and when talking about how people speak in different settings.

The Polynesian language of the Tokelau islands, closely related to Samoan and Tuvaluan, spoken in Tokelau and in Tokelauan communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The three main atolls of Tokelau - Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo - often referred to collectively when discussing the homeland and its communities.

Extended family or kin group; the wider network of relatives who share obligations, land rights and celebrations, and a central social unit in Tokelauan life.

A village or settlement community, especially one on an atoll; also used for the people of that village acting together under its elders.

The council of elders in a Tokelauan village who hold authority over local matters, including rules, disputes and community decisions.

A formal meeting or gathering where people come together to discuss matters, share news or make decisions, often opened and closed with speeches.

A formal speech or oration delivered at a gathering, typically structured with greetings, acknowledgements and a closing, showing respect to hosts and elders.

Thank you; an expression of gratitude used in everyday speech and in formal acknowledgements, often extended into longer thanks in speeches.

A greeting and acknowledgement meaning hello or well done, also used to recognise effort or arrival; its use depends on context and relationship.

A common greeting meaning hello, also carrying a sense of sympathy or concern in some contexts; a standard opener in conversation and letters.

Goodbye, said when parting; also used in the phrase 'tofa soifua' as a respectful farewell to someone leaving or at the end of an event.

Work, activity or performance; used for fishing, crafting and other productive tasks, and for performances such as dance or song at community events.

Song or singing, including communal singing and composed songs performed at celebrations; often paired with dance in Tokelauan performance traditions.

Dance, especially a standing dance performed in groups at celebrations; the term covers choreographed movement accompanied by song and rhythm.

A story, narrative or account; also used for news or a report, and in storytelling contexts for traditional tales passed down through generations.

A traditional story or legend from the past, often explaining origins, places or customs, and told to pass on knowledge and values to younger listeners.

A lament or mourning song, sung to express grief and remembrance; an important genre in Tokelauan oral tradition with distinctive melody and wording.

To explain, describe or give an account of something; also the noun for an explanation, used when clarifying meaning in speech or writing.

To emphasise, strengthen or make a point clearer; used when a speaker stresses key information or supports an argument with detail.

A question; also the act of asking. Question forms in Tokelauan often begin with a question word and change intonation or word order.

A particle or small grammatical word that carries meaning such as tense, aspect or direction; these markers are essential for building correct sentences.

A word; also used for the vocabulary of a language. Knowing a range of fuafua helps with both understanding texts and producing your own writing.

To listen or pay attention; listening tasks require identifying main ideas, specific details and tone from spoken Tokelauan in different situations.

Conversation or dialogue between people; also used for the way someone speaks. Understanding turn-taking helps in listening and speaking assessments.

To read or count; in reading tasks it means working through a written text to find meaning, sequence and the writer's purpose.

To write; also a written document. Writing tasks ask you to produce texts such as letters, notices or short recounts for a clear audience and purpose.

To watch or look at; used for viewing tasks where you interpret visual texts such as performances, posters or video clips and describe what you see.

To show, display or present something to others; also used for presenting work, ideas or a performance in front of an audience.

Spirit, feeling or inner sense; also used for the meaning or spirit of a text, as opposed to its literal words, when interpreting messages.

Culture or custom; the shared practices, values and protocols of a community, including how people greet, host visitors, share food and show respect.

Respect; shown through language choices, seating, serving order and behaviour toward elders and guests, and a key value in Tokelauan communication.

A formal ceremony and gathering involving speeches, seating by rank and shared drink; knowing its protocol helps you understand formal Tokelauan language in context.

Food; sharing and preparing food is central to Tokelauan hospitality, and food vocabulary appears often in texts about celebrations, fishing and daily life.

A canoe or boat; traditional sailing and fishing vessels are common in Tokelauan stories, songs and descriptions of life on the atolls.

The sea or ocean; a central part of Tokelauan life, identity and vocabulary, appearing in directions, weather talk, travel and traditional narratives.

The Māori name for New Zealand, home to a large Tokelauan community; relevant when discussing migration, language maintenance and bilingual contexts.

A Māori term for genealogy or lineage; comparing it with Tokelauan ways of tracing kinship helps show how related Polynesian cultures record ancestry.