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Samoan is an official language of Samoa and is considered one of the oldest Polynesian tongues. It is closely related to Maori, Tahitian, Hawaiian, and Tongan languages. The language features a scarcity of consonants and a heavy use of vowels, with distinctions between long and short vowel forms. Grammatically, Samoan relies on particles, which are small words that function as grammatical markers, similar to prepositions or articles in English. Many Samoan words reflect maritime traditions, including terms for ocean currents, winds, and celestial bodies.12

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