PP by: Dawn Riley, Nellie Roberson, Briar Ravencroft, Fleta Russell, Samantha Salling, Cortney Soland, and Donna Schreiber

1. Samoan Culture
Power Point Presentation By:
•Briar Ravencroft(Rituals)
•CortneySoland(Non-Verbal Use of Clothing)
•Dawn Riley (Introduction, Gender Roles, Power Point Compilation,
Conclusion)
•Donna Schreiber (Samoan vs. American Culture)
•Fleta Russell (Non-Verbal Communication)
•Nellie Roberson (Communicating & Samoan Culture)
•Samantha Salling(Verbal Communication)
Communication Studies 101

2. Purpose
• The Purpose of this presentation is to connect
all aspects of Communication learned
throughout this ComSt 101 course to the
world.
• We will be presenting information on the
Samoan Culture to help our viewers better
understand the cultural differences between
American and Samoan Cultures, and to help
effective communication between the two.

3. • The Samoan Islands are located in the southern Pacific Ocean and forms
part of Polynesia.
• The islands are broken up into two regions Samoa & American Samoa.
• The are specific cultural differences between the two jurisdictions
• The Samoan islands are very welcoming and have assimilated to
coinciding with other major cultures in the World.
• Today there are many Samoan people in the USA and we will look at how
their culture coexists with American Culture.

4. How Samoan Culture Differs from
American Culture
• As we interact with many different cultures, we find that
there are many differences from our own American
culture.
• We are taking a closer look into Samoa and providing
some interesting facts of their heritage.
• But before that, we would like to show you some
differences between Samoa and America such as health
care, Holidays, and sports.

5. Health Care and Medical Facilities
SAMOAN
•Samoa’s health care facilities are equipped for regular check ups but are limited. Serious
illness, some emergencies, and related laboratory work are treated else where. Evacuation
for such things are sent to the United States and can cost thousands of dollars.
•Doctors and hospitals often expect cash payment on the spot. The pharmacies may not
carry the prescription or over the counter medicines or they may be a different quality
than those available in the United States.
AMERICAN
• America has thousands of hospitals
spread out over the fifty-states.
• Health care can cost a lot of money, but
their are ways to get affordable health
care. Some employers offer a health care
package while you are employed with
their company, as well as government
programs to help families with low
income.
• Hospitals in the U.S. are required by law
to handle a large variety of illnesses and
are properly equipped for these
situations.

6. Samoan Holidays
• In Samoa no official business is conducted in a three-week span starting a week before
Christmas and ending a week after New Year’s. The post office shuts down for a week. As
well as, Independence Day since the two are back to back all banks, offices, and most stores
are closed as well.
• A lot of countries celebrate mothers and fathers day but Samoa has made Children's Day
(White Monday, the day after White Sunday) a public holiday. On White Sunday, the children
dress in white parade to church; after the service they take places of honor and eat at a
family feast.
• Independence Days are celebrated during the first week of June their is dancing, feasting,
speeches, by Tulafale (talking chief), horse races, and other sporting events. Even though
Samoa attained independence on January 1, 1962 the celebration’s are held in June to avoid
total paralysis around Christmas.
• The Teuila Festival is held in September their are many cultural activities such as a church
choir competitions, dance and beauty contests, squash and cricket finals, long boat races ,
traditional games ,talent shows, and many more.”
• Once a year, the palo reef worm rises from the coral before dawn according to a lunar cycle
(October on Upolu, November on Savai’i). The Samoans wait with lanterns and nets to catch
this prized delicacy, the Caviar of the Pacific. This remarkable event takes place in Samoa,
Fiji, and some other islands, but never in Hawaii.”

7. U.S. Holidays
• On St. Patrick’s Day America pays tribute to the Irish culture and traditions in America. Irish music concerts,
dancers, exhibitions, theatre performances and religious services are held in March ever year. Americans also
wear the color green, and eat green foods, and drink popular Irish drinks.
• Easter is celebrated based on one’s religious belief’s and denomination. Christians commemorate Good Friday
as the day Jesus died and Easter Sunday as the day he rose. Throughout America kids get Easter baskets that
the Easter bunny left for them filled with candy.
• Mother’s day is a day when people young or old can show their appreciation for their mothers.
• Memorial Day we pay tribute to all the fallen soldiers who have served in any branch of the service. Memorial
Day first acted to honor Union soldier's but was expanded after World War 1.
• Father’s Day began shortly after mothers day to show appreciation to hard working dad’s.
• Independence Day is a federal holiday in the U.S. commonly known as Fourth of July. Declaring America's
independence July 4, 1716 from the Kingdom of Great Britain. This day is commonly associated with barbecues,
picnics, concerts, carnivals, fireworks, family reunions, and ceremonies.
• Labor Day is the first Monday is September every year. Since September 5,1882 as the Central Labor Union Of
New York sought to create a day off work for the working citizens.
• Columbus Day is celebrated the second Monday in honor of Christopher Columbus being the first European to
have discovered the New World of the Americas.
• Halloween is a time for people for all ages to dress up and go trick or treating around local areas.
• Veterans Day honors over 24.9 million military veterans in the United States.
• Thanksgiving Day is on the fourth Thursday in November each year at the end of harvest season, to express
thanks.
• Christmas is a gift giving holiday wear some jobs and family give gifts and love based on religious background.
• New Years Eve is not a federal holiday but many Americans have parties and light fireworks.

8. Sports
SAMOAN
• The Rugby League is very popular in Samoa.
– In 2000 their rugby team reached the quarter finals in the World Cup. Many of Samoan descent
play in the Super League and National League in Britain.
• American football is growing in Samoa.
– About thirty percent of ethnic Samoans, many from American Samoa, currently play in the N.F.L..
• Cricket is a minor sport, the Samoan team finished last place, missing out in the 2011 World Cup.
• Professional wrestling and MMA, despite the small population on the islands in the United States
Samoans are very visible in these sports.
• Soccer is a popular sport with the team being ranked 149th in the world at the time of this article.
AMERICAN
• The major professional sports in America are baseball, football, hockey, golf, tennis, soccer, and Nascar.
• America has put a lot of interest in sports, paying players millions of dollars to play the game. Players go
overseas to play in other countries but not many due to the exposure they would get in the United
States.
• America has both male and female teams in many different sports.
• Soccer was founded in 1993 and began play in 1996 as a result of the U.S. hosting of the 1994 F.I.F.A.
World Cup.
– Soccer is the youngest of the major sports in the United States.
• Basketball took it’s current form in 1949, the NFL in 1920, and the NHL in 1917 with twenty-three teams
in the United States and seven in Canada.

9. Verbal Communication

10. The Role of Language in Samoan Verbal
Communication
• Classified as a member of the Polynesian language family and part
of a subgroup of the Austronesian family of languages
• Noted for a lack of consonants and increased use of vowels
•Another unique aspect is the use
of particles.
•These are small words that
function independently.
•This is similar to how the
English language uses
prepositions, articles, and
conjunctions

11. Formal and Informal Language
•High talking chiefs speak a formal
form of polite communication that only
they understand
•Very similar to how communication
works in American Society
•Orators or “Tulafale” operate as the
chief of the family and communicate
family stories and histories
•An informal version of the language is
spoken by the common people as well
as the “Tulafale” of the family
•Cherished as a symbol of cultural
identity

12. Tulafale (Orator)
•Samoan orators or “talking
chiefs”, also known as Tulafale
are the spokesmen for the
village and each family.
•Orators use a specialized form
of rhetoric to tell the histories
of the people, political and
religious insights and to inform
the village of important news
•Oratory is delivered in a clear
and ringing cadence that is
often yelled out

14. “Siva Afi“
Fire Knife Dance
•The fire knife is a
traditional Samoan cultural
implement that is used in
ceremonial dances.
•Knife dancing has a history which goes back hundreds of
years. Tribal performers of fire knife dancing (or Siva Afi as it
is called in Samoa) dance while twirling the knife and doing
other acrobatic stunts.

15. Sasa Samoan
Group Dance
•Generally the sasa is performed
by a large group of people, it is
normally performed sitting down,
but there are parts of the dance
which require the group to stand
up.
•Every Sasa is different.
• A Sasa will always begin with the fa'aluma yelling tulolo which
tells the group to bow their heads, and nofo for the group to sit up
again, in a Sasa you will hear chants like "Talofa" (greetings) in the
beginning and "Tofa" (farewell) at the end.

16. Pe’a Traditional Male
Tattoo
•The Pe'a is the popular name of the traditional male
tattoo of Samoa.
•The pe'a covers the body from waist to knees. In
Samoan custom, a pe'a is only done the traditional
way, with aspects of cultural ceremony and ritual,
and not with European tools or needles.
• Samoan males with a pe'a are called soga'imiti and
are respected for their courage. The traditional
female tattoo in Samoa is the malu.
• In Samoan society, the pe'a and the malu are
viewed with cultural pride and identity as well as a
hallmark of manhood and womanhood.

17. Clothing Traditions:
Formal & Informal

18. How do the Samoan Artifacts Reflect
their Culture?
• Samoan artifacts include,
but are not limited to:
– tattooing,
– formal clothing
– informal clothing
– Jewelry
• Modesty is important to
Samoans and it is
inappropriate to show the
area between the knees
and thigh.

19. Informal Clothing
• Informal clothing is more commonly
seen at present.
• All Samoan clothing begins with a
traditional lava-lava, a single piece of
cloth worn wrapped around the waist
as a skirt worn by both men and
women.
• Some Samoans wear a bright colorful
floral blouse or top with the lava-lava
• Most Samoans prefer to wear a t-shirt
over their lava-lava, as this is considered
appropriate for everyday wear.
• Samoan women typically wear a
puletasi which is similar to a mu’umu’u
and was introduced by the early
Christian missionaries.

20. Formal Clothing
• Typically, for formal wear Samoans stick with the lava-lava or
a ‘iefaitage (a sarong with pockets) but add more formal tops,
such as a white shirt, tie, suit coat, or leather sandals.
• Most Samoans prefer to wear white to church on Sundays.
• Bikinis, swimming suits, and sometimes swimming pants are
banned at many traditional villages.
• Darker colored tops are considered more appropriate for
formal occasions.
• Civil servants often wear darkly colored uniforms.

21. Rituals
Fa'a Samoa meaning “the Samoan way” makes up the
traditions, language and culture of Samoa.

22. Tattoos
• Marks the transition into adulthood.
– Traditionally only mandatory for
men and the chief’s daughter.
• A man with a full tattoo is seen as
having courage and one without any
tattoos is marked for ridicule.
• Tattoos have a basic form with a
stylized version of a bat and a small
black triangle on the back.
• Tattooist is highly respected and served first at ceremonies. They are also feared and were
thought to possess magic.
• At the end of the tattooing, traditionally an egg is cracked over the head of the person getting it
and the legs are anointed with coconut oil/tumeric as a symbol of life.
Ryman, Anders (2004, June 01). Peti'sMalu: Traditions of Samoan Tattooing. World & I, (6), 160, Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com

23. ‘Ava Ceremonies
• Revolves around the creation and ritual
consumption of a beverage made from the ‘ava
root.
• Guests are arranged according to rank and
served in the same fashion.
• Provides a ceremonial area for meeting and
decision-making.
• Tradition has survived missionaries and has even
migrated with Samoans to the U.S.
• Traditionally the drink is prepared in one large
bowl and a single cup is used to drink amongst
the chiefs according to rank
Ryman, Anders (2004, April 01). The Sacred Root. World & I, (4), 174, Retrieved from
http://elibrary.bigchalk.com

24. Gender Roles
•Traditionally, Samoa has been a male-
dominated society. Today, women are
allowed more social power due to
transition of a cash based economy
(Advamea Inc., 2012).
•There are more than 2 genders in
Samoan Culture: Male, Female,
&Fa’fafine
•Historically men would work and cook,
while women would tend to the children
and household
•A family unit consists of all extended
family and is presided over by one male.

25. Fa’aFafine: A 3 rd Gender
•Fa’afafine are known as “homosexuals” in
American culture.
•There are no social stigmas against the
Fa’afafine in Samoan Culture
•They have a varied sex life, but mainly their
relations are with men.
•Fa’afafine are transvestite males who fulfill
the duties of a women
•They perform all of the domestic roles a
women would in a household
•They are very hard workers
Schmidt, J. R. (2001). Redefining fa'afafine: Western discourses and the construction of transgenderism in
samoa . Intersections: Gender, History and Culture in the Asian Context, 6,

26. Males
•Primary role is to be the Head of the Household
•Strives to be elected Matai Chief
•If elected he will preside over all extended family
•The Mataimanage all land and properties held by the family
•Settle domestic disputes
•Coordinate household labor
•Promote unity and maintain tradition
•Males will predominantly hold jobs and be the bread winner
•Jobs tend to be centered around hard manual labor (Binden et. al.
1997)
•Bindon, J. R., Knight, A., Dressler, W. W., & Crews, D. E. (1997). Social context and psychosocial influences on blood pressure among
americansamoans. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 103, 07-18.
•Advameg, Inc. (2012). Culture of americansamoa. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/American-Samoa.html

27. Females
•A woman’s primary role is to be a wife and child bearer
•A woman’s status reflects her husband’s title
•Must maintain a clean and orderly household
•Women take care of the children
•They will partake in numerous crafts and domestic labor
•Sewing, weaving mats, laundry, most of the cooking (TODAY)
•Today women are able to hold jobs much like men
•They also have more social power in Samoan Society
•Nursing has been a long accepted role for women
•Women in some cases may be the Matai (Binden et. al., 1997).
•Bindon, J. R., Knight, A., Dressler, W. W., & Crews, D. E. (1997). Social context and psychosocial influences on blood pressure
among americansamoans. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 103, 07-18.
•Advameg, Inc. (2012). Culture of americansamoa. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/American-Samoa.html

28. How Samoan & Other Cultures
Can Communicate Effectively

29. •Samoa is a beautiful, fascinating tropical destination, and it also has an
extraordinarily welcoming culture.
•As a non-Samoan in order to be able to communicate better with a
Samoan you must learn to first understand its culture and tradition.

30. UNDERSTANDING SAMOAN CULTURE
• The Samoan hierarchy is taught at a young age.
– “While children are young, they are taught that there are certain ways to do certain things. There are different
ways to look at people. There are different ways to talk around people. Everything is done with fa'aaloalo.
Fa'aaloalo is the first thing taught.
• Fa'aaloalo is more than respect. It is a way of living in a community with harmony. Fa'aaloalo
is culture and its what keeps the Samoans together.
– Taking off shoes when entering the home of a host. This shows fa'aaloalo because it is treating a person’s home
like holy ground that can’t be walked on with shoes.
– Taking a gift known as a fa'aoso when visiting a family. One should never go empty handed when invited to
someone’s home. In return, the hosting family gives the guest the best of what they have.
– Lowering oneself and saying tulou (pardon me) when passing in front of or near a person.
– Helping elderly people. Giving up your seat for an elder, or stopping to assist an elderly person with a heavy load
or chore is not uncommon in Samoa.
– Not raising your voice after dark. Once the sun sets at about 6:00 p.m. in Samoa, each person is expected to be in
his/her home with family. Anyone who is not inside must show respect for the family by their peaceful silence.
• Fa'aaloalo is a governing attitude or behavior that determines ones Samoanness. To know
the fa'asamoa one must understand fa'aaloalo because it is the fa'asamoa in a sense that
the culture revolves around the fa'aaloalo.

31. SAMOAN CULTURE
COMMUNICATION FAMILY
•When you communicate with Pastors or High Chiefs •The Samoan culture family plays a huge role in the
you must communicate with in the formal pronunciation household. Everybody works and lives together to
of the language with a T vs. speaking in the relaxed support the family. Samoans are very close and this has
version of the language with a K. carried on with Samoans who have left the islands.
•In samoa weddings and funerals are a big part of their
•Where as the word Tasi (formal) is spelled with a T you culture. With both weddings and funerals there is
can pronounce is Kasi (informal) with a K. always a formal presentation called the sua that is given
to those of high status. “(L.Tanner, personal
communication, 1/18/2012)”
SUA Mealtime
•Sua is usually made up of vailolo (drink with money in •Mealtime at the village is the best example of everyone
it; originally it was a coconut and a coconut frond called knowing the proper role in the village faaaloalo. The
tuaniu) currently they use a soda can with money family presides and leads all village activities from the
slipped under the top ring, amoamosa (tray of biscuits matai (high chief of the village). When mealtime comes
and material or a combination of other small foodstuffs around, his family eats first. Following the matai’s family
like a can of corn beef), and a suatalisua (a box of corn would be the next ranked chief and his family.
beef and chicken or similar). This is followed by a fine
mat or several fine mats. Family members will usually
present the sua before the wedding or funeral and than
the items that are received are than returned as a thank
you for supporting.

32. CONCLUSIONS
•To be able to communicate effectively with Samoan culture it is important to
understand all the different aspects and not assume their culture is that of American
Culture (Beebe, et. al., 2011. p.142). It is also important to know what pieces of their
culture they find most sacred and support their differences.
•Samoans have two forms of verbal language and it is critical to know the difference as
chiefs speak the formal language and tribe the informal. By not knowing the difference
unintentional offense may occur if you don’t recognize a chief. By knowing who the
Orator is in a Samoan tribe you will be able to learn all about the history of the group.
•“It is important to realize that nonverbal behavior is culture bound” (Beebe et. al.,
2011. p.91). By understanding the nonverbal communication forms of the Samoan
culture, you will learn the status of men and women, as well as the history and beliefs
through their dance ceremonies.
•As a tourist it is very important to understand the way of dress in a Samoan village.
Samoan culture is very conservative and it is appropriate to dress very modestly.
Wearing revealing clothing it frowned upon, so to assimilate to their cultural demands
make sure to be covered up when going into public on the Samoan islands.

33. Conclusions Con’t
• It is important to understand “The Samoan Way” and take time to learn about what differences
there may be compared to American Culture. Samoan rituals are very structured even down to
how guests are treated.
• Tribal tattoos reveal a lot about Samoan ranking and tradition in men and women. It is very
honorable to have a full body tattoo, and men without are considered un-honorable.
• Men and women have much the same roles as in American Culture. In Samoa men tend to
overlook the household, while women maintain it. In Samoan Culture the whole extended
family is taken care of by one Matai Chief. As in American Culture the communication between
men and women is very complicated and some scholars believe that men and women have
their “own culture” (Beebe, et. al., 2011. p143).
• There is an accepted Third gender, Fa’afafine, in the Samoan Culture. This may rise controversy
due to stereotypes, and this difference should be handled with care as to not disrespect their
culture. “It is important to be aware of the range of human sexual expression and to be
sensitively other-oriented as you interact…” (Beebe et. al., 2011. p.145).
• Family hierarchy, Fa’aalaolo, plays a very crucial role in Samoan Culture. To be able to
communicate well one should know the importance Fa’aalaolo is to Samoa, and learn to
understand it if trying to understand how Samoan families work.

34. “You may not plan to travel the
world, but the world is
traveling to you.”
(Beebe, et. al., 2011. p.149)

35. 3-5 Questions about
Samoan Culture
1. How does verbal communication and language play a role in
Samoan culture, Why?
2. What are some non-verbal differences in communication
between Samoan and American Culture?
3. What is one major difference between Samoan & American
culture, how do you think this affects communication?
4. How do the rituals of the United States compare to the rituals
presented here?
5. What is the role of a Fa’afafine. Do you think American culture
would openly accept this 3rd gender? Why or Why not.

36. References
•Abduction.(1995, February).Health Care Country. February 27,2011, http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_cis1009.html
•Afatasi.(2005-2012 SA'O Inc) Sa’o fire knives & more. Retrieved,1/19/2012. www.saolelei.com.
•Advameg, Inc. (2012). Culture of American Samoa. Retrieved fromhttp://www.everyculture.com/A-Bo/American-
Samoa.html
•Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Ivy, D. K. (2011). The Blue Book of Communication Studies (TCC Custom Edition ed., pp. 65-89).
Boston: Allen and Bacon.
•Bindon, J. R., Knight, A., Dressler, W. W., & Crews, D. E. (1997). Social context and psychosocial influences on blood pressure
among American Samoans. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 103, 07-18.
•Cox, P. (2012). Samoan Americans. Samoan News. Retrieved from
http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Pa-Sp/Samoan-Americans.html
• Federal Holidays.USA Calendar 2012. February27,2011. http://www.usafederalholidays.com/index.html
•Holmes, L. D. (1969). Samoan oratory. The Journal of American Folklore, 82, 326. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/pss/539779
•L.Tanner, personal communication, 1/18/2012
•Lotonuu. 2010, August. Samoan Clothing – Does it matter what you wear while you’re there?. Retrieved from
http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/samoan-clothing-does-it-matter-what-you-wear-while-youre-
there-3018791.html
•Maps of World. Samoa Clothing. Retrieved from http://www.mapsofworld.com/samoa/people-culture-festivals
clothing.htm

37. References Con’t
•Ritz, M. K. (2006, August 06). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/
article/2006/Aug/02/il/FP608020307.html
•Ryman, Anders (2004, June 01). Peti'sMalu: Traditions of Samoan Tattooing. World & I, (6), 160,
Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com
•Ryman, Anders (2004, April 01). The Sacred Root. World & I, (4), 174, Retrieved from
http://elibrary.bigchalk.com
•Schmidt, J. R. (2001). Redefining Fa'afafine: Western discourses and the construction of
transgenderismin samoa . Intersections: Gender, History and Culture in the Asian Context, 6,
•Stanley,D.(2009-2012). Public Holidays and Festivals. South pacific.(February27,2011,
http://www.samoa.southpacific.org/travel/holidays.html
•VisitSamoa.ws(2012) The official Samoa tourist site. A page on local culture. Retrieved on 2/9/2012
•Wikipedia. 2012, February. Culture of Samoa. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Samoa
•Wolf,J.D. (1999-2012). Health Care in the United States. ehow. February 27,2011,
http://www.ehow/about_4793151_health-careUnited-States.html