Meaning of k-style | Babel Free

Definitions

The consonant system of colloquial Samoan, differing from that of formal Samoan in a few particulars, among them the pronunciation of /t/ as [k].

uncountable

Examples

“In a formal setting with an unknown papālagi visitor, a Samoan would be expected to use⟳ the formal t-style, but Ali’imalemanu started his performance in k'''-style and then switched over to t-style after a few minutes. Later on when he knew me better he mixed the two styles when he told me stories (and, of course, always used the k'''-style when we talked together with no recorder on, no matter⟳ what the subject was).”

“This study⟳ shows that there are two important linguistic styles in modern Samoan which are marked primarily through the alternation of phonological features. These two styles have⟳ been termed the t-style and the k'''-style. Most past descriptions of Samoan have⟳ failed to account for linguistic variation in Samoan, and in particular, for the k'''-style of modern Samoan.”

“The two styles are in a diglossic relationship to one another, with the t-style used to mark⟳ respect⟳ and formality in contexts such as preaching, prayer and radio broadcasts, and in conjunction with use⟳ of “chiefly language”, while the colloquial k'''-style is used in more intimate and/or informal contexts such as the home, when joking, and in casual conversation. […] There are numerous examples from our factory data where code-switching serves to establish⟳ solidarity or minimise face⟳ threats between Samoan team members. In all these examples, the speakers use⟳ the informal k'''-style of Samoan.”

CEFR level