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Tongan Language Study Notes

Overview

• Lesson Title: Ako Lea Fakatonga - Beginners Level 1 - Lesson 2

• Instructors: Alafapeti Fakatonga & Puaki Lea

• Date: Monday 3rd November 2025

• Location: Tongan Kingdom Academy

Letter and Sound Composition

• Alafapeti fakatonga

  • Total Letters: 17

  • Vowels: 5

  • Consonants: 12

  • Includes 1 digraph (two letters combined to create one sound): NG.

  • Example of a digraph in English: ph producing the f sound.

  • Includes fakaʻua (glottal stop) represented by an apostrophe ' (backwards apostrophe).

• Puaki lea (Pronunciation System)

  • Letter Pronunciations:

  • K is pronounced as GA

  • P is pronounced as BA

  • T is pronounced as DA

Vowel and Consonant Breakdown

• Vowels: A, E, I, O, U

• Consonants: FA, HA, KA, LA, MA, NA, NGA, PA, SA, TA, VA

• Additional Notes on Pronunciation: To pronounce consonants, the letter 'A' is added.

  • Example:

  • F = FA

  • H = HA

Tongan Language Features

Macron (Toloi)

• Definition:

  • A Toloi is a macron ( - ) that indicates a long vowel in Tongan language.

• Importance:

  • Changes the stress in a word.

• Example:

  • The word Tatā means